Inside the violent brawl that led to Robert Mugabe's son Chatunga's recent arrest

Former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe’s youngest son, Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, has been released on bail after he was arrested on multiple charges including assault.

The 28-year-old Chatunga is charged alongside his bodyguards identified as Peter Fredson and Tinashe Mupawo.

The arrest follows a violent attack that occurred at a mining site in Mazowe - Ultimate Mining concession, leaving a security guard critically injured, with broken limbs. The Ultimate Mining concession borders a farm owned by Chatunga’s mother, Grace Mugabe.

The brutal attack happened last week, when the furious Chatunga led a group of heavily armed men, some brandishing AK-47 rifles. The group, led by Chatunga, charged into the mining area and confronted the security guards, accusing them of allowing illegal miners to operate on his mother's property.

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After a severe attack, several employees of the mining concession were nursing wounds after being brutally assaulted. There are also reports of some gunshots being heard during the chaos.

On Tuesday, Chatunga was seen in a video doing the rounds, wearing a black hoodie during a court appearance. Chatunga and his co-accused were later released on US$200 (around R3,500).

In September last year, IOL reported that court in Zimbabwe had issued a warrant of arrest for Chatunga, after he failed to attend court in connection with another violent incident.

IOL saw the statement from the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe, which stated that Chatunga was expected to appear before the Beitbridge Magistrate’s Court, in the border town near South Africa.

Chatunga was due before the court for a routine remand hearing following his arrest two weeks earlier on charges of disorderly conduct. The long-time president’s son also faced charges of possession of prohibited weapons, in the form of a knife allegedly found on him.

“Allegations are that on August 31 2024 the accused person’s vehicle which was being driven by a South African national was stopped at Bubi security roadblock in Beitbridge. The driver was asked to produce his passport and vehicle registration documents,” the prosecutions authority’s statement read.

The South African national was identified in media reports as Irvin Molokoza.

The Zimbabwean authorities said before the driver could comply, Chatunga allegedly handed his passport to the police officer.

“The police officer ordered the driver to park the vehicle on the side of the road. It is alleged that the accused person complained after the police officer requested that the driver parks the motor vehicle off the road. He (Chatunga) allegedly disembarked from the vehicle and charged towards the police officer shouting, ‘what are you doing, you are delaying me for the fourth time. I am rushing to a wedding in Harare, check my passport, don’t you know who I am’,” the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe stated regarding the disorderly conduct charge.

Regarding the possession of prohibited knives charge, the authorities said during the scuffle, a small brown knife allegedly fell from Chatunga's black hooded fleece jacket.

The police recovered the knife leading to Chatunga's arrest.

jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za

IOL News