A security guard is in critical condition, battling for his life after a brutal assault at a Mazowe mining site, allegedly perpetrated by Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, son of the late former President Robert Mugabe, and a group of men brandishing AK-47 assault rifles.
The incident, which occurred on Wednesday around 4PM at the Ultimate Mining concession bordering Grace Mugabe’s farm, has sparked outrage and raised serious questions about the rule of law and impunity in Zimbabwe.
According to sources within Ultimate Mining, tensions arose when Chatunga, leading a heavily armed team, stormed the concession, accusing the staff of harbouring illegal gold panners who were repeatedly trespassing on his mother’s property.
“We were told our crime was allowing illegal gold panners to trespass on their land,” said one of the victims, who spoke on condition of anonymity, fearing reprisal.
The clash was reportedly triggered when trespassers on the Mugabe estate fled onto Ultimate Mining grounds. The assailants accused the mine security of failing to act on these breaches – an alleged inaction that reportedly enraged Chatunga and precipitated the violent assault.
“The next thing we saw were men brandishing AK-47s, and Chatunga was 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?),” recounted a mine official, also requesting anonymity for their safety.
The violence quickly escalated, leaving at least three workers seriously injured, suffering fractures to the skull, ribs, cheekbone, and limbs, according to medical reports and X-rays seen by ZimLive. Elvis Bvumbwe, the security guard, sustained multiple fractures while attempting to shield himself from the brutal attack.
Amid the chaos, there was an accidental firearm discharge. A supervisor who rushed in to diffuse the situation was allegedly caught in the crossfire and assaulted, along with two other staffers identified as Chipara and Muchemwa.
“I tried to reason with them, but they accused me of hiring thugs to attack them,” said the supervisor, who showed hospital scans revealing a fractured cheekbone and broken nose during an interview with ZimLive.
The victims allege that they were frogmarched nearly 200 meters into the Mugabe compound, doused with water, and repeatedly beaten with logs and metal rods.
An affidavit from Dr Motto Hope of Parirenyatwa Hospital, provided at the request of Mazowe Police, confirmed the severity of Bvumbwe’s injuries. The affidavit stated that Bvumbwe suffered a fractured left ulna bone and severe bruising caused by both sharp and blunt trauma, with injuries classified as severe and potentially permanent.
The formal police request for medical examination sent to Parirenyatwa Hospital, read: “Would you please have this person examined by a medical practitioner and the appropriate medical examination report form completed.”
The statement added: “Patient was assaulted all over the body and sustained [injuries] on the head, back and left hand… requesting for a medical affidavit.”
Last Dube, an Ultimate Mine employee who accompanied the victims to the hospital, described the harrowing scene. “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.
Dube further stated that the victims were so severely injured that they had to be wheeled into Parirenyatwa Hospital because they were unable to walk.
Despite the gravity of the situation and the evidence of the brutal assault, witnesses claim that Chatunga remained defiant even at the Mazowe Police Station.
“If (President) Mnangagwa hears I’m at Mazowe Police, everyone here will be fired,” he allegedly declared, prompting the officer-in-charge to retreat to his vehicle. Chatunga then reportedly drove off without being detained.
Medical bills for the injured have already surpassed US$2,000, according to Ultimate Mine General Manager Joel Mushoriwa, who says staff are traumatised and living in fear.
“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,” Mushoriwa said.
The case was officially logged under Report Received Book (RRB) Number 6347367 at Mazowe Police Station. However, concerns are mounting about whether justice will be served, given Chatunga’s alleged influence and history of questionable behaviour.
Efforts to obtain a comment from police spokesperson Paul Nyathi were unsuccessful at the time of publication.
Two years ago, Chatunga and his co-accused Tatenda Chinyiku were arrested for allegedly assaulting one Lazarus Pairemanzi and destroying his vehicle’s window panel over improper driving.
His brother, Robert Mugabe Junior, was arrested in February 2023 after allegedly damaging property worth US$12,000 in Harare.
Furthermore, an investigation by South African unit Amabhungane last year uncovered potential money laundering involving Chatunga, just before Mugabe’s ouster in a coup. The investigation revealed a series of illegal Hawala payments made to Chatunga Mugabe through an unnamed individual connected to Ewan Macmillan of the Gold Mafia exposé. It was alleged that in November 2017 when the late Mugabe was removed from power by the military and his former allies, including current President Emmerson Mnangagwa, two transactions worth R1 million were processed. Before that, in October, there were five batches of R1 million transactions and two batches of R500,000 transactions.
The latest incident involving the brutal assault on mine workers has amplified calls for accountability and raised fears about the erosion of the rule of law in Zimbabwe. The question remains whether Chatunga Mugabe will be held responsible for his alleged actions, or if his family name and perceived connections will shield him from justice. The nation watches and waits.
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