Chatunga Mugabe has landed in police custody after a probe into two luxury cars led to claims of an attack on an anti-corruption officer. Police detained the 29-year-old son of former Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe at Brompton Guest Lodge, in the Newlands area of Harare, along with four other men.
The cars are a Lamborghini and a Mercedes-Benz GLE 53, both with South African plates. Investigators from the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) suspect the vehicles stayed in Zimbabwe past the limits of their temporary entry permits.
Here's where the records get messy. The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) had logged the Lamborghini as having left Zimbabwe after an earlier entry. Its files also showed the Mercedes going back to South Africa. Yet officers found both cars at the lodge.
Simiso Mlevu, who speaks for ZACC, gave those details at a media briefing. She said a tip had led her team to the property, where one investigator was allegedly attacked during the operation. The agency then brought police into the case.
Commissioner Paul Nyathi named the rest of the group as Munashe Mubawu, 43, Terrence Johannes Chinyemba, 42, Fredson Peter, 33, and Solomon Pamire, 34. All five spent the night at Highlands Police Station before their planned court hearing.
But there is still a gap in the case. Officials have yet to spell out what each man may have done in the alleged car smuggling scheme. The assault claims also remain allegations, not findings of guilt.
Chatunga has dealt with police in the past as well. In one drug case, officers found 72 grams of cannabis inside a bag held by his friend, Max Mugaba. Prosecutors dropped Chatunga's charge before he entered a plea, while the case against Mugaba went ahead.
Another run-in took place in Johannesburg after a gardener suffered a gunshot wound at a property. Chatunga was arrested, then sent back to Zimbabwe after he admitted he had no legal right to stay in South Africa.
Other claims have linked him to a dispute with officers at a Bubi roadblock and an alleged attack on people accused of entering Grace Mugabe's farm in Mazowe without leave.
For this case, the next step is in court. The seized cars and the alleged attack are both under scrutiny, while the five men await the legal process.
The cars are a Lamborghini and a Mercedes-Benz GLE 53, both with South African plates. Investigators from the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) suspect the vehicles stayed in Zimbabwe past the limits of their temporary entry permits.
Here's where the records get messy. The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) had logged the Lamborghini as having left Zimbabwe after an earlier entry. Its files also showed the Mercedes going back to South Africa. Yet officers found both cars at the lodge.
Simiso Mlevu, who speaks for ZACC, gave those details at a media briefing. She said a tip had led her team to the property, where one investigator was allegedly attacked during the operation. The agency then brought police into the case.
Commissioner Paul Nyathi named the rest of the group as Munashe Mubawu, 43, Terrence Johannes Chinyemba, 42, Fredson Peter, 33, and Solomon Pamire, 34. All five spent the night at Highlands Police Station before their planned court hearing.
But there is still a gap in the case. Officials have yet to spell out what each man may have done in the alleged car smuggling scheme. The assault claims also remain allegations, not findings of guilt.
Chatunga has dealt with police in the past as well. In one drug case, officers found 72 grams of cannabis inside a bag held by his friend, Max Mugaba. Prosecutors dropped Chatunga's charge before he entered a plea, while the case against Mugaba went ahead.
Another run-in took place in Johannesburg after a gardener suffered a gunshot wound at a property. Chatunga was arrested, then sent back to Zimbabwe after he admitted he had no legal right to stay in South Africa.
Other claims have linked him to a dispute with officers at a Bubi roadblock and an alleged attack on people accused of entering Grace Mugabe's farm in Mazowe without leave.
For this case, the next step is in court. The seized cars and the alleged attack are both under scrutiny, while the five men await the legal process.
