Musician Chillmaster, real name Gift Gombarume, has been sentenced to 420 hours of community service after being convicted of culpable homicide and driving without a licence, following a fatal road accident that resulted in the death of a pedestrian. The sentence was handed down by Mbare Magistrate Tatenda Mukurunge, who also fined the artist US$200 or, in default, four months’ imprisonment for driving without a valid licence. On the second count of culpable homicide, Chillmaster was initially sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment, but 12 months were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour, while the remaining 12 months were further suspended on condition he completes the community service at Stoneridge Primary School.
During court proceedings, Chillmaster expressed remorse for the incident and detailed the support he offered to the deceased’s family, including purchasing the coffin, providing food for the funeral, and arranging transport from Harare to Zaka. Called to testify, family spokesperson Lucia Charumbira told the court the family had forgiven the musician and acknowledged the help he rendered during the funeral. She revealed that the deceased was stressed at the time of the accident and urged the court to consider a non-custodial sentence. The ruling concludes a tragic episode involving the “Ndiudzezvese” hit maker, who now begins a journey of restitution through community service.
