Online Reporter
THOSE WHO ARE AGAINST THE MAGISTRATE’S JUDGMENT
OUR Chillmaster judgment, under the headline ‘Chillmaster Escapes Jail,’ provoked intense debate among our readers, on all our platforms, when we published the story last month.
Now, the High Court is poised to become a theatre for a gripping legal drama as the criminal case of Zimdancehall music star Chillimaster, which was marked by a combination of tragedy and remorse, comes under intense scrutiny.
One question now looms large: WAS JUSTICE TRULY SERVED?
This inquiry, led by Judge President Mary Zimba-Dube, seeks to untangle the threads of a case that has captured the public’s imagination and stirred deep emotions.
Our platforms have been indundated with a lot of feedback from our readers:
The principle of justice hinges on proportionality, accountability, and deterrence. If Chillmaster’s case concludes with leniency, community service or fines it risks undermining public confidence in the legal system.
Justice must be blind to fame and status. It should reflect the severity of the offence, the impact on victims, and the societal expectation that all are equal before the law − Frank Frank
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Let’s get this straight. The artist drove a car without a licence. Thts a serious offence which does not warrant a fine.
World over driving a vehicle without a licence is a very serious offence in which a mere fine is inadequate.
The magistrate made an error there and she is setting a very bad and dangerous precedent. − Reader
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The wheels of justice shld be seen turning in a manner tht satisfies the matter and sends out a message to would be offenders tht u will pay heavily by jail term if caught driving without a licence.
Imagine what all people driving without licences are feeling right now seeing that it’s just a mere US$200 fine.
They won’t care abt getting a licence fully knowing tht u won’t go to jail. − Reader
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There is a reason why pple shld get licences to drive cars and here we have a magistrate saying it’s not a big deal to drive without a licence. It’s sad and the High Court is just absolutely right to intervene in this matter. − Reader
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The fact that he stood up with the now deceased’s family in those difficult times is neither here nor there.
That should have never been considered as a mitigating factor on the issue of driving without a licence.
Yes, on culpable homicide, yes, it was an accident those factors can come into play we know it and it’s quite common hence we have many cases of drivers getting community service or getting suspended jail time. But it can only apply on a driver who is licenced.
If you don’t have a licence, the matter takes a different trajectory and in this case the magistrate didn’t do tht, instead the magistrate took it the same way the licenced drivers are treated when involved in similar incidents, which is wrong and shameful. − Reader
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The magistare should be investigated − Malcom Malu Msipa
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Driving a car without a licence is the same as impersonating a Pilot or Doctor. If you kill people in the process there is no excuse. A custodial sentence will send the right message − Fortune Ngarande
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How can an unlicensed person run over an innocent soul and walk out of a murder case just like that and it takes two months for the High Court to intervene?…. Only after the public outcry, it’s a shame… cry my Zimbabwe − Decide Gomo
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The magistrate who handled the case should also be investigated and justice must be served.
If someone is being arrested and still in custody because their dog killed someone, what about a person who drives without a licence and kills a pedestrian?
Anombo shamisira chiiko iye Chillmaster iyeyu, ngaapinde mujeri, he is a killer, period − Lance Mari
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It was not his intention kutsika munhu but kumutsa mota wotoconnecta Bluetooth then woisa mudrive iwe usina kana provisional zvayo ndizvo zvikundirwadza, munhu ane license akasungwa akapihwa two years haana kuuraya he just endangered people’s life chete. − Jasper
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Munhu akaba charger yeWheelchair yaChipo Muchegwa akapiwa two years in jail, then mumwe driver without a license abva atsika munhu akafa opiwa community service haaaa − Noel Witness
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Wangu apo pakashanda chizivano wakambozviona kupi iweeee wauraya munhu wonzi US$200 netuma hours tweCommunity service..Ivhu kuvahu munhu ngapinde mukati. − Ba Juju
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Paidamoyo Karen Musarara dai iri hama yenyu yakatsikwa nemunhu asina license muchinyora so?
Mistakes are common but hautambe tsiva nelife yevanhu driving without a license − Patience Fuzani
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Mukarega kumusunga saka Zimbabwe yaparara motovhara VID because ko inenge ichiine basa rei kungo driver tisina kana tauraya vanhu muroad tonotonyora topedza nyaya …Pasi nehuori hwanyanya. − Beven Chikanda
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Zvekuti he’s your favourite artist ndezvenyu izvo, se celebrity (the magistrate) was supposed to give him a harsh sentence kuti povo idzidze paari − Shona ZW
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If Chillimaster does not go to jail for a long time it means in Zimbabwe we don’t have law and there is no deterrent for killing someone intentionally driving without a licence and killing someone intentionally − Baron Gwaze
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That’s good, everyone should get an equal treatment, he killed somebody with no license to drive so he is fully culpable.
Jail will be the fair punishment, zvekuzoti how long hazvina basa. We need justice for the deceased person − Tatenda Dzvene
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No one is above the law” means that all individuals, regardless of their position or power, are subject to the same legal system and must abide by its rules. This principle, often referred to as the rule of law, is fundamental to a just and democratic society. It ensures that everyone is accountable for their actions and that no one can act with impunity or disregard the legal framework − Daniel
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We need more details on the accident and what the police determination was on the cause of the accident.
But driving without a valid licence is an offence, on top of that his actions have caused loss of life. So community service alone is not right. − Whiteson Ngwenya
The law should take its due course without favouritism. We don’t want acts of judicial traversity in such sensitive matters.
Chillmaster took a car to the road without having a valid Zimbabwean drivers’ licence, a serious Contravention of Road Traffic Act − Sigauke
I think there is one comment that puts this situation in its proper perspective. The person who gave an example of someone impersonating a pilot or a doctor. Take the Mpilo Hospital case of one Prosper Mpofu who was impersonating a doctor and “treating” patients. He got a custodial sentence. This unlicensed driver was impersonating a driver and took life as a result. His sentence should be harsher than Prosper Mpofu’s. Mpofu did not kill anyone but his actions had the potential to kill.