JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – The youngest son of Zimbabwe’s former leader Robert Mugabe pleaded guilty on Friday to pointing a gun and illegally being in South Africa but denied shooting and badly wounding his gardener after an altercation.
Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, 29, had been in police custody with his cousin and co-accused, Tobias Mugabe Matonhodze, on attempted murder charges following the incident in Johannesburg’s posh Hyde Park district.
Mugabe pleaded guilty to being in South Africa illegally and pointing a gun in a separate incident, while Matonhodze pleaded guilty to attempted murder.
Matonhodze, 32, also admitted to contravening immigration and firearm laws.
“We had initially engaged with the state with the intention of finalizing a plea and sentencing agreement but those discussions collapsed at the last minute,” Mugabe’s counsel Sinenhlanhla Mnguni said.
He dismissed suggestions that Matonhodze was taking the fall for Mugabe, calling the claims “very ludicrous.”
Advocate Laurence Hodes argued in mitigation for the two men, saying Mugabe is willing to pay a fine and meet the costs for his own deportation to Zimbabwe.
Hodes asked for suspended sentences for both, which he said will serve as a “warning” to them, a monetary fine, and compensation to the victim.
The firearm used in the shooting has not been recovered since the two were arrested on February 19, and the police lead investigator told the court that this was a sign that Matonhodze had no remorse.
The case was adjourned to April 24 for prosecutors to verify if the gardener Sipho Mahlangu was compensated, and for Matonhodze to provide details on where the firearm used in the shooting can be found.
Bellarmine is one of two sons that Robert Mugabe had with his second wife Grace. The brothers have at times lived in Johannesburg, where they have gained a reputation for partying and living the high life.
Mugabe, who died in 2019, was in power for 37 years before he was ousted in a 2017 coup.
