Mugabe’s Son Granted US$100 Bail in Robbery Case

Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, the youngest son of Zimbabwe’s late former president Robert Mugabe, and four co-accused have been granted bail of US$100 each by the Harare Magistrates Court following their arrest over allegations of assaulting a Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) investigator and stealing his firearm.

Mugabe appeared in court alongside Terence Johannes Chinyemba, Fredson Peter, Solomon Pamire and Munashe Mubhawu, who are facing robbery and malicious damage to property charges.

The five had initially been remanded in custody while awaiting a bail hearing before the State consented to their release.

As part of their bail conditions, they were ordered to reside at their stated addresses, report to the police once every week and refrain from interfering with State witnesses.

They are expected to return to court on November 24.

The charges stem from an alleged confrontation on November 3 at Brompton Guest Lodge in Harare, where a ZACC investigator was reportedly conducting surveillance linked to two luxury vehicles suspected of having been illegally imported into the country.

Prosecutors allege that the accused confronted the investigator before assaulting him with open hands and broomsticks, leaving him with a deep cut on his forehead.

The investigator was subsequently taken to hospital for treatment.

The State further alleges that the assailants took his Norinco Star pistol, which contained 11 rounds of ammunition, and his Samsung A56 mobile phone, which was allegedly smashed during the incident.

The firearm was later recovered from Chinyemba, according to the State's case.

Court papers indicate that three of the accused were employed as security guards at Iron Mask Farm in Mazowe, while Mubhawu worked as a security aide.

The allegations remain untested in court, and the five accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty.