Robert Mugabe Jr, the 33-year-old son of Zimbabwe’s late former president Robert Mugabe, has been arrested in Harare on charges of drug possession, drawing fresh public attention to the controversial legacy of the Mugabe family. According to court documents, Mugabe Jr was apprehended on Wednesday morning after allegedly driving the wrong way down a one-way street. Police say they conducted a search and discovered two small sachets of cannabis in a black sling bag he was carrying at the time.
The arrest has also led to a wider crackdown. Authorities announced that five other individuals, described as part of a “syndicate linked to him,” were detained in connection with the same case. Reports indicate that the group was found in possession of 25 sachets of marijuana and six ecstasy pills, suggesting that the investigation could expand beyond a simple possession charge. Police have vowed to continue their inquiries as the matter develops.
Mugabe Jr’s legal team has disputed the allegations, arguing that the cannabis was not found on him personally but inside a vehicle carrying three other occupants. They further contested the official quantity of the substance recovered. While police records cite 2 grams of cannabis with an estimated street value of $30 (about £22), his defense maintains that only 0.02 grams were found, questioning the accuracy of the charges.
Courtroom witnesses described Mugabe Jr arriving in joggers and a red cap, speaking on his phone as he was escorted into the magistrates’ court on Thursday. He was surrounded by supporters and associates but notably was not handcuffed. The court has since ordered him to remain in custody pending a bail ruling scheduled for Friday, while the case continues to generate headlines both within Zimbabwe and internationally.
This is not the first time Robert Mugabe Jr has faced legal trouble. In 2023, he was arrested in Harare following accusations of property damage and allegedly spitting on a police officer during a heated altercation at a party. That case was eventually resolved through an out-of-court settlement with the complainant, who was reported to be a personal acquaintance.
Robert Mugabe Sr, who died in 2019 at the age of 95, ruled Zimbabwe for nearly four decades after leading the liberation struggle that brought an end to white-minority rule in the country then known as Rhodesia. Initially celebrated as a liberation hero, Mugabe Sr later came under fierce criticism for overseeing economic collapse, widespread corruption, and political violence used to maintain his grip on power. He was eventually ousted in 2017 and replaced by his long-time ally-turned-rival, Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Relations between the Mugabe family and the current government were tense for years after Mugabe’s ouster. Grace Mugabe, the widow of the late president, was believed to harbor ambitions of succeeding her husband, but she was sidelined by Mnangagwa’s loyalists during the transition of power. However, Robert Mugabe Jr has more recently sought to rebuild ties with the ruling Zanu-PF. In 2022, he appeared at a major rally where he was publicly welcomed back into the party, signaling a rapprochement between the Mugabe family and Mnangagwa’s administration.
The latest arrest of Mugabe Jr has once again placed the spotlight on the family name, which continues to spark strong emotions across Zimbabwe. For many, the case reflects broader concerns about youth, privilege, and accountability in the country’s political and social fabric. Whether this case will mark another minor controversy or lead to more serious consequences remains to be seen, but it has undoubtedly reignited debates about the Mugabe family’s enduring influence in Zimbabwe’s political landscape.
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