Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, son of the late former President Robert Mugabe and former First Lady Grace Mugabe, is accused of leading a group of armed men who allegedly assaulted a security guard at a Mazowe mining site, leaving him critically injured.
The incident reportedly occurred around 4 PM on Wednesday, when Chatunga allegedly led a heavily armed team, wielding AK-47 assault rifles, into the Ultimate Mining concession, which borders Grace Mugabe’s property.
Sources say the group accused Ultimate Mining staff of allowing illegal gold panners to trespass onto land belonging to the Mugabe family.
The armed men allegedly blamed the mine’s security team for failing to stop the intrusions.
A mine worker who spoke to ZimLive on condition of anonymity, fearing retaliation, said the confrontation began after trespassers fleeing from Mugabe estate security crossed into the Ultimate Mining concession. This reportedly enraged Chatunga, leading to the violent assault. Said the official:
The next thing we saw were men brandishing AK-47s, and Chatunga among them. Our security guard was suddenly attacked by Chatunga himself, who shouted, ‘wasiirei vanhu vachipinda mumunda wapresident chaivo?!’ (Why did you allow people to enter the real president’s land?).
At least three workers sustained serious injuries, including fractures to the skull, ribs, cheekbone, and limbs, according to medical reports and X-rays reviewed by ZimLive.
Amid the chaos, a firearm was reportedly discharged accidentally. A supervisor who rushed in to defuse the situation was allegedly caught in the crossfire and assaulted, along with two other staff members identified as Chipara, Muchemwa, and security guard Elvis Bvumbwe.
One of the supervisors, who spoke to ZimLive and presented hospital scans showing a fractured cheekbone and a broken nose, said he had tried to reason with the group but was instead accused of hiring thugs to attack them.
The victims claim they were frogmarched nearly 200 metres into the Mugabe compound, where they were doused with water and repeatedly beaten with logs and metal rods.
Bvumbwe, said to be the most seriously injured, reportedly sustained multiple fractures while trying to shield himself from the blows.
An affidavit by Dr Motto Hope of Parirenyatwa Hospital, submitted to Mazowe Police, confirmed Bvumbwe suffered a fractured left ulna and extensive bruising caused by both sharp and blunt force trauma. The injuries were classified as severe and potentially permanent.
Last Dube, an Ultimate Mine employee who accompanied the victims to the hospital, said:
I escorted the police to the scene after making the report. The officers saw that the victims were soaked in blood and visibly weak.
They said, given their condition, it was better we prioritised medical attention because if we take them straight to the police station, they might die there.
Dube said the victims had to be wheeled into Parirenyatwa Hospital as they were unable to walk due to the severity of their injuries.
Despite the gravity of the incident, witnesses claim Chatunga remained defiant—even at the Mazowe Police Station.
He reportedly drove off without being detained, after allegedly warning the officer-in-charge that if President Emmerson Mnangagwa were to hear of his detention, everyone at the station would be fired.
Ultimate Mine General Manager Joel Mushoriwa said medical bills for the injured have already exceeded US$2,000. He added that staff are now traumatised and living in fear. Said Mushoriwa:
We are deeply saddened by these events. The injuries are severe, and so far we’ve incurred over US$2,000 just for initial check-ups.
We’re hoping the law takes its course, but it’s difficult when the person involved claims to be untouchable.
The case has been officially recorded under Report Received Book (RRB) Number 6347367 at Mazowe Police Station.
Chatunga is no stranger to controversy involving violent behaviour. In September 2024, he was arrested after allegedly assaulting a police officer at a roadblock near Beitbridge.
The incident occurred when police stopped a South African-registered vehicle in which Chatunga was a passenger.
He reportedly became agitated during the security check, shouted at officers, and physically assaulted one of them by grabbing his collar and tearing off his shirt buttons. A flick knife was also allegedly found in his possession.
Chatunga was charged with disorderly conduct and unlawful possession of a weapon. He appeared before a magistrate in Beitbridge and was remanded out of custody pending trial.
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