Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, the son of Zimbabwe’s late former president Robert Mugabe, has walked free after drug possession charges against him were withdrawn at the Harare Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
The 29-year-old appeared in court following his arrest alongside his friend, Max Mugaba, over the alleged possession of 72 grammes of cannabis.
According to reports from Zimbabwe, the State withdrew the charges against Mugabe before he entered a plea, while his friend remains before the court facing the drug possession charge. (ZBC NEWS – YOUR VOICE, YOUR CHOICE)
Mugabe’s lawyer, Simbarashe Mukwekwezeka, told the court that his client had picked up Mugaba while travelling to get a haircut and was unaware that his friend allegedly had cannabis in his bag.
The lawyer said police stopped them after noticing that the vehicle they were travelling in did not have registration plates. A subsequent search allegedly led to the discovery of the drugs in Mugaba’s bag.
Mugaba has reportedly accepted responsibility for possessing the cannabis. He remained in custody as his bail application was being dealt with. (Herald Online)
Another legal controversy after South African case
The latest development comes months after Mugabe faced a separate criminal case in South Africa following a shooting incident at a Johannesburg residence in February 2026.
Mugabe and his cousin, Tobias Matonhodze, were arrested after a worker was shot and wounded. The case resulted in different outcomes for the two men.
In April, Mugabe was fined R600,000 for offences involving pointing an object resembling a firearm and contravening immigration laws, and was ordered to leave South Africa. Matonhodze received a three-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to charges that included attempted murder. (Reuters)
Mugabe’s release in Zimbabwe follows the withdrawal of the drug charges against him, while his friend’s case continues through the courts.
