Ex-Zimbabwe President Mugabe’s son drops bail application in shooting case, turns to plea bargain
Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, the son of late former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, and his co-accused Tobias Mugabe Matonhodze have withdrawn their bail applications in a Johannesburg shooting case and will instead pursue plea negotiations with prosecutors.
The two appeared in the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, March 11, where their lawyer, Advocate Laurance Hodes, told the court the defence would no longer proceed with bail, the Citizen reports.
“My instructions are not to proceed with the bail applications,” Hodes said, adding that the pair intend to enter plea discussions with the state.
Hodes asked that the matter be transferred back to the regional court to facilitate the negotiations. The state confirmed the arrangement and requested a postponement. The case returns to court on March 17.
Mugabe and Matonhodze were arrested following a shooting at Mugabe’s home in Hyde Park, Johannesburg, on February 19, in which a 23-year-old gardener was seriously injured.
They face charges including attempted murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, pointing a firearm, and defeating the ends of justice. Mugabe also faces a separate charge of being in South Africa illegally under the Immigration Act.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
