Chatunga Arrest Twist: “Nothing to Do with Cars”, Drunk ZACC Agent Allegedly Urinated in Garden, Pulled Gun on Mugabe’s Son at Harare Lodge
HARARE — A Zimbabwean internet television personality claimed Wednesday that the arrest of Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe had nothing to do with luxury vehicles and instead resulted from a confrontation with a man he identified as a CIO cum Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission investigator.
Gerrard Anko Ged Belts, host of “Current Issues” on Zimbo Live TV, wrote on X that he was “reliably informed” Lloyd Mupanduki, whom he described as working for ZACC and the Central Intelligence Organisation, was behind Chatunga’s arrest.
Belts said the incident occurred at Brompton Lodge, where Mupanduki had been booked in Room 11 with a girlfriend from Masvingo.
According to the post, a drunk Mupanduki began urinating in the sitting garden area where Chatunga — referred to as Bells — and his friends were relaxing. When confronted and told he could not do that, Mupanduki allegedly responded that nothing could be done to him.
Belts said Chatunga then slapped him, after which Mupanduki pulled out a firearm and pointed it at Chatunga before lodge security subdued him.
The account contrasts with statements from the Zimbabwe Republic Police and ZACC.
Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed Chatunga, 29, the youngest son of the late former President Robert Mugabe, and four other men were arrested on Nov. 3 around 6:30 p.m. at Brompton Guest Lodge in Highlands in connection with an alleged assault on a ZACC investigator.
The men — Munashe Mubawu, 43; Terrence Johannes Chinyemba, 42; Fredson Peter, 33; and Solomon Pamire, 34 — were held at Highlands Police Station and were due in court today, Nov. 5.
ZACC spokesperson Simiso Mlevu said the operation targeted two South African-registered vehicles — a Lamborghini Urus and a Mercedes-Benz GLE 53 — suspected of remaining in Zimbabwe beyond the terms of temporary import permits.
Belts’ post, which included a photograph of a man he identified as Mupanduki, had received tens of thousands of views by Wednesday night.
Officials have not publicly named the investigator involved or responded to the alternative account.