Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, the youngest son of the late former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, is facing serious assault charges after he and two of his security aides allegedly launched a violent attack on five mine security guards in Mazowe, Mashonaland Central Province.
The 28-year-old appeared this week before a magistrate at the Concession Magistrates’ Court, jointly charged with his bodyguards, Peter Fredson and Tinashe Mupawo. The three men were each released on US$200 bail as they await trial on charges stemming from a confrontation that turned violent near Grace Mugabe’s Iron Mask estate.
According to court documents and statements by the prosecution, the incident occurred on June 25, 2025, in the vicinity of Ultimate Mine, which borders the former First Lady’s farm. Prosecutors allege that Chatunga Mugabe and his bodyguards were in pursuit of illegal gold miners when they encountered security guards patrolling the mine. It was during this encounter that tensions escalated and violence erupted.
The first victim named in the charges, Ntandoyokuza Nyathi, was reportedly patrolling the area with a dog when the trio confronted him. Chatunga Mugabe and his men allegedly accused Nyathi of protecting the illegal miners they were chasing. Before Nyathi could respond, one of the accused reportedly fired a gunshot into the air.
The State claims that following the gunshot, all three men descended on Nyathi, punching and slapping him repeatedly until he collapsed. However, the assault allegedly did not end there. It is claimed that the trio continued to stomp on the unconscious guard, forced him to carry a sack of gold ore, and dragged him to the Mugabe property, where the beating continued.
Prosecutors further allege that once at the premises, Nyathi was subjected to more physical abuse. This time, the men allegedly used wooden logs and an iron bar to strike him. He was eventually rescued and taken to a medical facility to receive treatment for his injuries. A formal police report was made at the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Mazowe station.
Chatunga Mugabe Released on Bail Following Alleged Assault of Five Mine Guards
Shortly after the first attack, another mine employee, Philip Chipara, a supervisor at Ultimate Mine, heard the gunfire and rushed to the scene. Prosecutors say Chipara tried to intervene when he witnessed Nyathi being assaulted, but instead became the next target.
It is alleged that Chatunga Mugabe , Fredson, and Mupawo turned their aggression toward Chipara, beating him with fists, booted feet, and a shambok (a heavy whip made of hide or plastic). Rather than de-escalating the situation, the trio is said to have intensified their assault. Chipara was reportedly handcuffed together with another guard, Elvis Bvumbe. Both were later released, but not before allegedly suffering physical abuse.
The violence reportedly did not stop with those three. Two additional employees at Ultimate Mine—Collen Muchemwa and Waddington Mutadza—also came forward with claims that they were physically attacked by the bodyguards, bringing the total number of complainants in the case to five.
Prosecutors say the assaults were unprovoked and unnecessary, and argue that the accused took the law into their own hands under the pretext of cracking down on illegal mining operations near the Mugabe estate.
The accused trio has not yet entered a plea, and the matter remains before the courts. The magistrate granted bail with conditions, including an order that they do not interfere with witnesses or revisit the scene of the alleged assaults until the trial concludes.
The case has sparked public interest, both due to the high-profile status of Chatunga Mugabe and the disturbing nature of the allegations. It has also renewed conversations around issues of law enforcement, vigilantism, and the often-violent gold mining disputes in Zimbabwe’s mineral-rich regions.
Legal analysts note that while Chatunga Mugabe does not hold a formal public position, his family name carries significant historical and political weight, which could have implications for how the case proceeds and how the public perceives the judicial process.
As the trial continues, the court is expected to hear testimony from the five complainants, investigating officers, and medical personnel who treated the victims. The accused are scheduled to return to court for the continuation of proceedings in the coming weeks.
For now, the Mugabe family’s youngest son remains a free man on bail, but with the spotlight firmly on the outcome of what could be one of the most closely watched criminal trials involving a member of Zimbabwe’s former first family.
Source- iHarare
