By Desmond Nleya
The youngest son of former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe appeared in a South African court after allegedly shooting a gardener at his residence.
Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe appeared at the Alexandra Magistrates Court in Johannesburg following the incident, which reportedly took place last month at his home in an affluent suburb north of the city.
During the court appearance, Mugabe abandoned his bail application, and the case has been postponed to 17 March. His legal representative, Sinenhlanhla Mnguni, said it is still too early to determine how his client will plead.
Mnguni explained that discussions are ongoing and negotiations with the state could take place before a plea is entered. He noted that it remains premature to say whether Mugabe will plead guilty to any charges at this stage.
Police arrested two men in connection with the shooting, including the 29-year-old Mugabe. Authorities confirmed that the suspect is the youngest son of Robert Mugabe, who was removed from power during the 2017 Zimbabwean coup d’état after nearly four decades as Zimbabwe’s leader.
Investigators say the motive behind the shooting is still unclear, and the case remains under investigation. The gardener who was shot was reported to be in critical condition.
Mugabe and his brother, the sons of Grace Mugabe, are known to occasionally stay in Johannesburg and have previously drawn attention for their social lifestyle. In an earlier incident several years ago, Grace Mugabe faced allegations of assaulting an employee at the family’s home in Zimbabwe.
