On 3 November 2023, Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, the youngest son of Zimbabwe’s late former president Robert Mugabe, was taken into police custody together with four other men after authorities said they were involved in an assault at Harare’s Brompton Guest Lodge and in the illegal import of two high‑end vehicles.
Who were the other individuals arrested?
Police identified the co‑accused as Munashe Mubawu, 43; Terrence Johannes Chinyemba, 42; Fredson Peter, 33; and Solomon Pamire, 34. All five were detained in connection with the same assault that occurred at approximately 18:30 local time (16:30 GMT) on the day of the incident.
What prompted the arrests?
According to a statement from the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), one of its officers was attacked during a vehicle seizure operation, leading officers to report the assault to police. ZACC spokesperson Simiso Mlevu confirmed that the commission had seized two luxury automobiles – a Lamborghini Urus and a Mercedes‑Benz – on suspicion that they had entered the country unlawfully.
What are the details of the seized vehicles?
Mlevu explained that the Lamborghini Urus was recorded as arriving in Zimbabwe in June and was listed as leaving on 12 July, while the Mercedes‑Benz was documented as departing for South Africa on 10 October. Both cars were taken into custody by ZACC as part of the ongoing investigation.
When will the accused appear in court?
The five men are scheduled to appear before a Harare court on 5 November to answer the charges related to the assault and the alleged vehicle smuggling.
Background on the Mugabe family:
Robert Mugabe ruled Zimbabwe for 37 years before being ousted in 2017 at the age of 93; he died in 2019. His second wife, Grace Mugabe, is the mother of Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe.
The incident underscores heightened scrutiny by Zimbabwean authorities on illegal imports and the conduct of individuals linked to former political elites.