By Levy Masiteng
Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, son of Zimbabwe’s deceased former president Robert Mugabe, and four co-accused have been remanded in custody following their appearance at the Harare Magistrates’ Court on Thursday over the alleged assault of an anti-corruption investigator during an operation targeting two luxury vehicles suspected of being smuggled into Zimbabwe.
The five are expected to return to court on Friday, 6 November, for a bail hearing.
Bellarmine, 29, appeared alongside Munashe Mubawu, 43, Terrence Johannes Chinyemba, 42, Fredson Peter, 33, and Solomon Pamire, 34.
They were arrested on Tuesday following an incident at Brompton Guest Lodge in Harare.
According to Zimbabwe Republic Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi, the arrests were made in connection with an assault case reported at the lodge.
Police confirmed the identities of the suspects but said further details would be released in due course.
The alleged assault occurred during a joint operation by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) involving two South African-registered luxury vehicles suspected of being illegally retained in Zimbabwe.
“Investigators had received information that a Lamborghini Urus and a Mercedes-Benz GLE 53, both reportedly registered in South Africa, were being kept at the lodge despite irregularities involving their temporary import permits,” ZACC spokesperson Simiso Mlevu said.
Mlevu said preliminary information indicated that the Lamborghini entered Zimbabwe in June and was recorded as having exited the country on 12 July.
The Mercedes-Benz reportedly entered Zimbabwe on the same day and was recorded as having exited for South Africa on 10 October.
However, both vehicles were subsequently discovered at the lodge in Harare, prompting investigators to seize them.
“One of our officials was assaulted by the suspects who are allegedly involved in the smuggling of the vehicles and the matter was reported to the police,” Mlevu said.
The investigation forms part of a broader crackdown on suspected customs fraud and irregular vehicle imports.
Bellarmine is the youngest son of Robert Mugabe and his wife, Grace Mugabe. His father ruled Zimbabwe for 37 years before being removed from power in 2017. He died in 2019.
The latest arrest follows several previous encounters with law enforcement.
In October, Zimbabwean prosecutors withdrew drug possession charges against Bellarmine before he entered a plea, after police allegedly discovered 72 grams of cannabis in a bag belonging to his companion, music promoter Max Mugaba, who continued to face prosecution.
In South Africa, Bellarmine was arrested in February following the shooting of a worker at his Hyde Park residence in Johannesburg.
In April, the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court fined him R600,000 and ordered his deportation to Zimbabwe after he pleaded guilty to contravening immigration laws and pointing an object resembling a firearm.
His co-accused, Tobias Tamirepi Matonhodze, pleaded guilty to attempted murder and other offences involving the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Matonhodze was sentenced to an effective three years’ imprisonment.
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