Chatunga Mugabe Arrested Over Alleged Drug Possession
Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe is facing fresh legal trouble in Zimbabwe after being arrested in Harare over allegations of possessing dangerous drugs.
The son of the late former president Robert Mugabe was brought before the Harare Magistrates’ Court on Friday morning, handcuffed to a friend who was arrested alongside him in the same case.
The pair are expected to appear for initial remand, where the allegations against them will be formally addressed.
Also Read: Chatunga Mugabe Walks Free As Cousin Tobias Matonhodze Gets 3 Years In Prison
Fresh Legal Trouble In Zimbabwe
The arrest adds another chapter to Chatunga’s encounters with the law, which have previously drawn attention in both Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Details of the alleged drugs and the circumstances surrounding the Harare arrest were not readily available.
South African Case Ended In Fines And Deportation
In March, Chatunga was ordered to leave South Africa after a court imposed fines totalling R600,000 for pointing a toy gun at a complainant in a manner that made it appear real and for immigration violations.
The court imposed a R400,000 fine for the toy-gun offence, with 24 months in prison as the alternative, and a further R200,000 fine for the immigration offences, with 18 months’ imprisonment as the alternative.
The magistrate said Chatunga was fortunate that the complainant had not been injured. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm and ordered to be escorted directly to OR Tambo International Airport for deportation to Zimbabwe.
The court made an exception by imposing a fine for the immigration offences, noting that Chatunga had the financial means to pay.
Cousin Received A Prison Sentence
Tobias Matonhodze, Chatunga’s cousin and co-accused in the South African proceedings, was sentenced to an effective three years in prison.
Matonhodze had been convicted of attempted murder, concealing a firearm to defeat the ends of justice, and illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition. His sentences were ordered to run concurrently, with deportation to follow after he completes his prison term.
The court considered his guilty plea and the compensation paid to the victim when deciding on the sentence.
The post Chatunga Mugabe Arrested Over Drug Possession appeared first on iHarare News.
