Zimdancehall artist Kudakwashe Gift Hombarume, professionally known as Chillmaster, has received a nine-month driving ban following a judicial review of his initial sentence for a serious road incident.
The new ruling was issued by a Mbare magistrate after Judge President Mary Zimba-Dube identified significant issues with the original judgment. The High Court gave the lower court 30 days to re-examine the case and deliver a more appropriate sentence.
High Court Orders a Review of Original Sentence
The case stems from an incident on April 9, 2025, when Hombarume, who was driving without a licence, was involved in an accident along New Chitungwiza Road. The accident unfortunately resulted in the death of a pedestrian, Custon Charumbira.
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| Zimdancehall Artist Chillmaster Faces Driving Ban After Sentence Review |
The 24-year-old artist admitted to several driving violations. In the initial ruling in May, he was fined US$200 for driving without a licence and given a two-year suspended sentence for culpable homicide, requiring him to complete 420 hours of community service.
Judge Cites Unduly Lenient Sentence
In her review, Justice Dube stated that the initial sentence was "unduly lenient" and did not reflect the seriousness of the situation. The court had originally classified the artist's actions as "ordinary negligence," but Justice Dube argued that the evidence pointed to a higher degree of negligence. Factors included driving at an excessive speed (80-100 km/h in a 60 km/h zone) without a valid licence.The court also considered that the victim’s family had asked for leniency, telling the court that Hombarume had provided them with financial and traditional support following the incident.
While acknowledging these gestures, Justice Dube emphasized that they could not override the gravity of the offense. She also pointed out that the original magistrate failed to impose a driving ban, a standard penalty in such cases.
The Judge stressed that prohibiting unsafe drivers from the road is essential for public safety and serves as a necessary deterrent.
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