Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, the 29-year-old son of Zimbabwe’s late former president Robert Mugabe, appeared in a Harare court on Thursday following his arrest in connection with an alleged assault on an anti-corruption investigator. The incident occurred during a state operation to seize two luxury vehicles suspected of being smuggled into the country.
Mugabe was arrested alongside four other men—Munashe Mubawu, 43, Terrence Johannes Chinyemba, 42, Fredson Peter, 33, and Solomon Pamire, 34—on November 3, 2026. The five men spent the night in custody at the Highlands Police Station before their court appearance.
Zacc Targets Luxury Vehicles at Guest Lodge
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) launched the operation after receiving information that two South African-registered luxury vehicles—a black Lamborghini Urus and a Mercedes-Benz GLE 53—were being kept at the guest lodge. ZACC spokesperson Simiso Mlevu stated, ZACC acted on information that these vehicles are in the country illegally,
noting that the commission suspected the cars had either been smuggled or had exceeded their temporary import permits. While these luxury vehicles were found at the lodge, authorities have not yet disclosed the specific role each of the five suspects played in their possession or importation.
Official records from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) indicated that the Lamborghini entered the country in June and was recorded as having exited on July 12. On that same day, the Mercedes-Benz GLE 53 entered Zimbabwe, with records showing it departed for South Africa on October 10. Despite these exit logs, investigators discovered both vehicles at the Newlands property. According to reports, investigators have found links between the Lamborghini and social media posts referencing vehicle theft reports in South Africa, drawing attention to the channels used to move vehicles across the border.
Mugabe Family Faces Ongoing Legal Scrutiny
The arrest is the latest in a series of legal issues involving the Mugabe family, whose wealth and lifestyle have remained under consistent public scrutiny since Robert Mugabe was forced from power in 2017. Robert Mugabe, who ruled for 37 years, died in 2019 at the age of 95.
In April, Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe was deported from South Africa after pleading guilty to being in the country illegally and brandishing an object likely to lead a person to believe it is a firearm
. In that case, he was ordered to pay fines totaling about $36,000 or serve two years in prison. Closer to home, Mugabe appeared in a Harare court in October to face drug possession charges, though those were later withdrawn after a co-accused accepted responsibility. South African authorities initially granted Grace Mugabe diplomatic immunity, but the country’s High Court overturned that decision in 2018 following a legal challenge.
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Chatunga Mugabe, Four Others Arrested Over Assault In Harare The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has confirmed the arrest of Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe and four other men in connection with an assault case in Harare. In a press statement issued on 4 November 2026, police said… pic.twitter.com/WphN2dkDVx
CHATUNGA MUGABE AND FOUR OTHERS ARRESTED OVER ALLEGED ASSAULT IN HARARE‼️ The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has confirmed the arrest of Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe (29), Munashe Mubawu (43), Terrence Johannes Chinyemba (42), Fredson Peter (33) and Solomon Pamire (34). The… pic.twitter.com/vLnBFOekci
