Chatunga Mugabe Granted US$100 Bail in ZACC Investigator Robbery Case

Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe and four co-accused have been granted US$100 bail each by the Harare Magistrates Court in a case involving the alleged assault of a Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission investigator and theft of his firearm.

Mugabe, the youngest son of the late former president Robert Mugabe, faces robbery and malicious damage to property charges alongside Terence Johannes Chinyemba, Fredson Peter, Solomon Pamire and Munashe Mubhawu.

According to Zimbabwe Now, the five secured bail after the State consented to their release. They had initially been remanded in custody pending the bail hearing.

The accused were ordered to remain at their stated residential addresses, report to police once a week and avoid interfering with State witnesses.

They are due back in court on November 24.

The prosecution alleges that the incident occurred at Brompton Guest Lodge in Harare on November 3, while the investigator was conducting surveillance connected to two luxury vehicles suspected of having been illegally imported.

According to the State’s case, the five confronted the investigator and assaulted him with open hands and broomsticks. He allegedly sustained a deep cut to his forehead and was taken to hospital for treatment.

The accused are also alleged to have taken his Norinco Star pistol, loaded with 11 rounds of ammunition, and a Samsung A56 mobile phone.

Prosecutors allege that the phone was smashed during the confrontation. The firearm was subsequently recovered from Chinyemba, according to the State.

Zimbabwe Now reported that court papers identified three of the accused as security guards employed at Iron Mask Farm in Mazowe, while Mubhawu worked as a security aide.

The bail ruling allows the accused to remain out of custody while proceedings continue. It does not determine the merits of the charges.

The five have not been convicted and are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.