Harare – Popular musician Stunner, real name Desmond Chideme, found himself back in the spotlight, this time facing assault charges. He appeared at Mbare Magistrates Court on Wednesday, accused of assaulting a nine-year-old girl and her mother.
The incident allegedly occurred on August 24th when Stunner witnessed his daughter falling while playing with Layla Chapeta, the nine-year-old victim. He reportedly took issue with the way his daughter fell and confronted Layla, subsequently assaulting the young girl.
When Layla’s mother, Ms Cathrine Matiza, intervened to protect her daughter, Stunner allegedly turned his aggression towards her, slapping her. This prompted Ms Matiza and her daughter to report the matter to the police, leading to Stunner’s arrest.
Stunner, however, denied the charges when he appeared before magistrate Batiraishe Zishiri. He is expected back in court on September 12th for trial.
This is not the first time Stunner has faced assault charges. Back in June 2022, he was arrested for allegedly assaulting his ex-wife Dione Tafirenyika.
Stunner claimed that his ex-wife, who was nearly 20 years his junior, fabricated the charges after he asked her to leave their marital home due to her alleged infidelity.
The incident reportedly stemmed from a disagreement over Dione’s refusal to hand over her mobile phone to Stunner, which escalated into a physical altercation. He allegedly slapped her and forcibly removed her artificial nails.
A year later, in 2023, Stunner was again reportedly arrested in Durban, South Africa, after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend. Local publications reported that Stunner was out partying with his girlfriend when one of the men they were with made advances towards her.
Stunner’s girlfriend did not hesitate to give out her number, which angered Stunner, leading him to physically assault her.
These repeated allegations of assault have cast a shadow over Stunner’s career, raising concerns about his behaviour and the potential for violence. While he has denied the charges in the latest case, the pattern of alleged incidents is a cause for concern.
