Bellamine Chatunga Mugabe, the son of the late Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe, is currently in the hospital undergoing throat surgery, which caused him to miss a scheduled court hearing.
His lawyer, Muchihwande Forbes Sithole, confirmed that Chatunga’s absence led to a legal warrant being issued by Magistrate Miss Vavariro Gavi at the Beitbridge court.
According to Sithole, “He is currently undergoing throat surgery in Harare and should be released by Friday.”
He expressed optimism that Chatunga would be able to attend court on Monday, where the legal team plans to request a warning, caution, and discharge for him.
ALSO READ: “Don’t you know who I am” ,Arrest warrant issued after Chatunga Mugabe skips court hearing
Chatunga is facing charges of disorderly conduct and possession of a prohibited knife stemming from an incident that occurred on August 30. The situation escalated during a police checkpoint when Chatunga was driving a South Africa-registered Range Rover. Tensions rose when police officers asked for a passport from one of his companions, leading to Chatunga becoming unruly. During the encounter, a flick knife was discovered in his possession, prompting the charges against him.
After his initial court appearance, Chatunga was granted bail, but his recent absence from court led to the issuance of an arrest warrant. Sithole remains hopeful that Chatunga will be released by Friday and will be present at the court on Monday to address the charges.
This case has reignited public debate about the Mugabe family’s perceived preferential treatment in legal matters, a topic that has long been a point of contention among Zimbabweans. Additionally, a controversial social media post, allegedly from Chatunga, apologizing to various officials was disavowed by his legal team, stating it was not an official statement.