Concession, Zimbabwe – Zimbabwe’s late president Robert Mugabe’s son Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe appeared in court on Tuesday facing charges of brutally attacking trespassers on a family farm.
Bellarmine Chatunga,28, appeared at Concession magistrate court wearing a black hoodie and was given a US$200 bail.
He is jointly charged with Peter Fredson and Tinashe Mupawo, who were also released on bail.
Five people were assaulted by Chatunga his bodyguards.
These are Ntandoyokuza Nyathi, Philip Chipara, Elvis Bvumbe, Collen Muchemwa and Waddington Mutadza.
Some of the victims received serious injuries.
The court heard that the five victims of the assault are guards at Ultimate Mine which shares a boundary with Iron Mask farm in Mazowe, north of Zimbabwe’s capital Harare, a farm which is owned by the Mugabes.
Chatunga Mugabe and his bodyguards accused guards of Ultimate Mine of harbouring illegal artisanal gold miners that encroach into Iron Mask farm to pan for gold.
Gun shots were fired and the five were assaulted by Chatunga and his bodyguards.
Chatunga Mugabe’s violent conduct is on record and he was arrested in Beitbridge last year for allegedly assaulting a police officer at a roadblock.
The oldest son of Robert Mugabe, Robert Mugabe junior was arrested last year for violently smashing windscreens and cars of a friend.
The value of the property destroyed is worth US$12 000.
Robert Mugabe died in 2019 aged 95 almost two years after he was removed in a military coup in 2017.
He sired three children with his wife Grace Mugabe, Bona, Robert and Bellarmine Chatunga.
Bona Mugabe’s divorce case with her ex-husband Simba showed the couple owned massive properties that include 21 farms, premier residential stands in Harare, a fleet of luxury cars and an US$8 mansion in Dubai.