Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe: Life, Education, Lifestyle & Legal Troubles in Zimbabwe and South Africa
Biographical Profile By: Sona Headlines Editorial Team
Focusing on Political Figures, Elite Lifestyles, and Legal Analysis.
Harare & Johannesburg • Public Profile • 2026
From the Blue Roof to the Courthouse. Born in 1996 into one of Zimbabwe's most prominent political families, Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe is the youngest son of the late former President Robert Mugabe and former First Lady Grace Mugabe. For much of his young adult life, Chatunga exuded an aura of luxury, wealth, and the carefree privilege that accompanied his family's 37-year reign. Today, his trajectory—from Zimbabwe’s most politically powerful household to facing severe criminal charges in two countries—reflects a broader story about inherited influence, conspicuous wealth, and accountability.
| A Life in the Spotlight: The youngest Mugabe son navigates severe legal scrutiny spanning across borders. |
As he faces attempted murder charges in South Africa while being out on bail in Zimbabwe for separate assault allegations, the 28-year-old's once-glamorous image is now intertwined with serious legal storms. This profile breaks down his upbringing, his controversial lifestyle, and the intricate legal landscape he currently faces.
A Shift in Narrative
The high life once associated with Chatunga Mugabe is now unfolding under sustained judicial scrutiny, testing the limits of his family's inherited influence and questioning the bounds of diplomatic immunity.
Background & Education
Born in 1996, Bellarmine Chatunga is the youngest child of Robert and Grace Mugabe. He has two older siblings: Robert Mugabe Jr. and a sister, Bona Mugabe (married to Simba Chikore).
Chatunga grew up in the iconic Blue Roof residence in Borrowdale, Harare. This sprawling, heavily secured mansion became a symbol of elite privilege, offering a stark contrast to the economic turmoil, chronic hyperinflation, and unemployment faced by ordinary Zimbabweans during his father's rule.
Chatunga's formal education was marked by prestigious institutions and sudden disruptions:
- 2003 – 2005: Completed elementary education (Grades 1-3) at St. Michael's Presentation Primary School.
- 2006 – 2009: Attended Hartmann House Prep School (Grades 4-7).
- High School: Enrolled at St. George's College, but was expelled in 2013 by Headmaster Kevin Atkinson. He subsequently completed the remainder of his secondary education at home.
The Opulent Lifestyle
As the Mugabe family's fortunes unfolded, Chatunga and his older brother, Robert Jr., gravitated towards South Africa’s affluent enclaves, particularly Sandton and Hyde Park in Johannesburg. Their opulent lifestyle, frequently showcased on social media, included luxury vehicles, high-end designer brands, and abundant displays of cash.
Despite his family's conservative public image on certain issues, Chatunga has often carved his own path. In August 2016, it was reported that he had grown dreadlocks—a style choice that stood in direct contrast to his father's documented views, as the elder Mugabe was on record associating dreadlocks with cannabis smokers.
Legal Controversies
Chatunga’s legal challenges include severe charges in his home country. He was arrested following a violent altercation at a gold mining concession in Mazowe—an area closely tied to Mugabe family assets.
Reports indicate he was accused of leading an attack on five security guards at Ultimate Mine, allegedly accusing them of protecting illegal gold miners. The guards reportedly suffered serious injuries, including broken hands and skull fractures, after being attacked with fists, iron bars, and logs. He was subsequently granted bail of approximately US$200 by the Concession Magistrates’ Court.
Currently, Chatunga faces highly serious charges in Johannesburg. Following a violent incident at his residence in the exclusive Hyde Park neighbourhood, a gardener was shot and left in critical condition.
He now faces attempted murder charges in South Africa. During the investigation, police conducted a search for the firearm and seized a BMW equipped with sirens and flashing lights from the property.
The Immunity Question
This is not the Mugabe family's first brush with the law in South Africa. In 2017, Grace Mugabe faced charges of assaulting South African model Gabriella Engels in Sandton. The case sparked a diplomatic crisis, ending when Grace was granted diplomatic immunity—a controversial decision later overturned by the High Court, leading her to flee the country.
Can Chatunga rely on his family's former status to avoid prosecution? According to international relations expert Dr. Gideon Chitanga, the answer is no.
“Robert Mugabe is just a former president and he is gone... They reside in South Africa as private individuals rather than accredited representatives of the Zimbabwean government,” Dr. Chitanga explains.
He stresses that diplomatic immunity requires acting as a representative of a sovereign government. Even holding a diplomatic passport does not grant blanket immunity for serious criminal acts. “Under the circumstances, he is not a representative... Secondly, he faces serious crimes in South Africa. I do not see any legal route that could let him escape this situation.”
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