Chatunga Bellarmine Mugabe, son of the late former president Robert Mugabe, walked free after prosecutors withdrew drug charges against him. Image credit
Prosecutors in Zimbabwe have dropped drug charges against Chatunga Bellarmine Mugabe, the youngest son of the late former president Robert Mugabe. With the Chatunga Mugabe charges withdrawn at the Harare Magistrates’ Court on Friday, his friend, Max Mugaba, will now face the case alone.
Earlier in the day, footage showed police escorting Mugabe into court in handcuffs. However, prosecutors withdrew the charges before he even entered a plea, and he walked out free.
Why the Chatunga Mugabe charges withdrawn decision sparked debate
Mugabe’s lawyer, Simbarashe Mukwekwezeka, gave the court his client’s version of events. According to the lawyer, Mugabe was driving a car without number plates when he picked up Mugaba on the way to a barbershop. Police then stopped the car because it had no registration. During a search, officers allegedly found 72 grams of cannabis in Mugaba’s bag.
The lawyer said Mugabe did not know that his friend allegedly had the drugs. He confirmed that prosecutors would continue with the case against Mugaba. So far, prosecutors have not publicly explained why they dropped the charges against Mugabe.
The outcome has sparked strong reactions, especially in South Africa. Many social media users have compared it to Mugabe’s case in Johannesburg earlier this year. In February, South African police arrested him after a worker at his home in Hyde Park suffered a gunshot wound. Police also arrested his cousin, Tobias Matonhodze.
In April, the two men struck a plea deal at the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court. Matonhodze pleaded guilty to the more serious charges, including attempted murder, and received a three year prison sentence. Mugabe, meanwhile, paid fines of R600 000 for pointing a firearm and for living in South Africa illegally. The court then ordered his immediate deportation, and officials escorted him to OR Tambo International Airport that same evening.
Because of this history, many users say the pattern looks familiar. Others, however, point out that the lawyer’s account places the drugs in Mugaba’s bag. They also say every accused deserves a fair hearing.
This is not the first drug case involving the Mugabe family. In October last year, Zimbabwean police arrested his older brother, Robert Mugabe Junior, in Harare. Officers allegedly found a small amount of cannabis in his bag after they stopped him for driving against traffic. The court later convicted him and fined him 300 US dollars.
Chatunga Bellarmine is the youngest of three children born to Robert Mugabe and his wife, Grace Mugabe. Robert Mugabe led Zimbabwe for 37 years, first as prime minister and then as president, until the military forced him out in 2017. He died in 2019. Since then, his sons have often made headlines for brushes with the law and their lavish lifestyles.
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