The Mounting Legal Troubles of Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe

Attempted Murder Charge: The Current Incident

Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, the 28-year-old son of the late Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, is facing his most severe legal challenge to date. He appeared in the Alexandra Magistrate's Court in Johannesburg on Monday facing charges of attempted murder.

The arrest occurred last Thursday after police were dispatched to his residence in the affluent suburb of Hyde Park. According to reports, the victim is a 23-year-old man who previously worked as a gardener at the property. The victim was critically wounded by a single gunshot during an altercation allegedly centered on his prolonged absence from work.

Mugabe is not facing these charges alone; a 33-year-old co-accused is also set to appear in court. As part of the ongoing police investigation, both men have been tested for gunshot residue. While the specific firearm used in the shooting has not yet been recovered, authorities have seized a vehicle from the premises that was found to be illegally fitted with police sirens.

II. A Pattern of Previous Legal Incidents

This recent violence is the latest in a series of legal entanglements for the former president's son. In August 2024, Mugabe was arrested on the Beitbridge-Harare highway. During that incident, he was charged with disorderly conduct at a police checkpoint and was found to be in possession of a knife.

Furthermore, in June of last year, he was implicated in a violent confrontation in Mazowe. It is alleged that he led an assault on illegal gold miners who had trespassed on his mother's farm. The incident was reportedly brutal, resulting in several individuals suffering broken limbs.

III. Broader Context and Public Scrutiny

The Mugabe brothers have frequently made headlines for reasons other than their father's political legacy. Bellarmine's brother, Robert Junior, has also faced various arrests involving drug and assault charges within Zimbabwe.

These recurring legal issues have brought significant public scrutiny to the family. The brothers' lifestyles and frequent brushes with the law stand in sharp contrast to the "austere image" maintained by their late father during his decades in power. This latest attempted murder charge marks a significant escalation in the legal troubles surrounding the Mugabe name in Southern Africa.