he shot his gardener and hid the gun

Both Mugabe and his bodyguard, Tobias Mutonje, were co-accused of this charge, of obstruction of justice and gun possession during a hearing that took place at the Alexandra Magistrates Court in Johannesburg, broadcast by local media.

The crime of obstruction has to do with the firearm used in the case, which is found missing.

“This relates to the firearm that was allegedly used during the commission of the crime, which, to date, has not been recovered,” said prosecutor Lufuno Maphiri during the hearing, in which the two co-accused appeared.

The case was postponed until March 3, when a bail application will be made.

Mugabe, 28, was arrested after allegedly shooting his 23-year-old gardener, who remains admitted urgently in a hospital.

This is not the first time that Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe has made a statement in South Africa.

In 2023, he was accused of assault after an altercation in a nightclub from Sandton. At that time, the Police confirmed the opening of a case, although the details of the outcome were not publicly revealed, according to local media.

The youngest son of the Zimbabwean dictator has also generated controversy on social networks for display large amounts of cash and luxury vehicles, which sparked a public debate about his lifestyle in South Africa.

Robert Mugabe ruled Zimbabwe from independence from the United Kingdom in 1980 until 2017, under a regime marked by allegations of repression of the opposition, disputed elections and a deep economic crisis that plunged the country into hyperinflation.

For many, he went from being considered the liberator of his country to becoming a dictator.

After the military coup that overthrew him in November 2017, Mugabe lived in relative political isolation, although with privileges guaranteed until his death in 2019 by the Government of his successor, the current president, Emmerson Mnangagwa.