Robert Mugabe Jr, 33, the son of Zimbabwe’s late president, was arrested in Harare after police said they found cannabis in his bag during a traffic stop.
- Robert Mugabe Jr., 33, was arrested in Harare for possession of cannabis after being stopped for driving the wrong way on a one-way street.
- Police alleged they found two sachets of cannabis and associated items in Mugabe Jr.’s vehicle, alongside accusations involving a drug syndicate.
- Mugabe Jr.’s lawyer denied his ownership of the drugs, attributing them to other passengers, and criticized the police’s claims.
Authorities say the arrest happened on Wednesday after he was seen driving the wrong way down a one-way street in Central Harare.
Officers allege that when they stopped and searched him, they recovered two sachets of cannabis weighing 2 grams with a street value of about US $30.
Besides Mugabe Jr, police say they arrested three people linked to what they call his drug syndicate. From that group, they reportedly recovered 25 sachets of Indo-hybrid dagga and six ecstasy pills.
Prosecutors told the court that Mugabe Jr was driving a silver Honda Fit and that police also found rolling papers and a small grinder along with the cannabis.
His lawyer said the drugs were not his but belonged to other passengers and accused the police of exaggerating the amount found.
When he appeared before the Harare Magistrate’s Court, Mugabe Jr was dressed casually in joggers and a red cap, was not handcuffed, and walked into court while on his phone.
His bail application was postponed, and he remained in custody for two nights as he awaited the decision. He was later released after paying bail of US $300.
This is not his first encounter with the law. In 2023 he was arrested after allegations that he damaged property and spat on a police officer during a party in Harare.
That case was later settled out of court. His brother, Chatunga, has also faced legal trouble in recent years.
Robert Mugabe Jr is the son of former president Robert Mugabe, who ruled Zimbabwe from 1980 until his overthrow in 2017. Mugabe died in 2019.
Over time, the Mugabe family fell into a strained relationship with the current president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, though Mugabe Jr publicly reconciled with Zanu-PF in 2022.
