Robert Mugabe Jr., the 33-year-old son of the late former President Robert Mugabe, was taken into custody in Harare on Wednesday night after police allegedly found cannabis and cocaine in his possession, according to sources linked to the investigation.
The arrest was carried out by the Criminal Investigation Department’s Drugs and Narcotics division following a tip-off. Officers reportedly intercepted Mugabe Jr. in Borrowdale, an upmarket suburb of the capital, during a routine stop. Authorities say small sachets of the suspected drugs were recovered from his vehicle, though the exact amounts will only be confirmed after forensic testing.
At this stage, no other individuals have been implicated. Mugabe Jr. is expected to appear at the Harare Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, where he will likely be charged under Zimbabwe’s Dangerous Drugs Act. The law prescribes penalties of up to a decade in prison for possession of controlled substances such as cocaine and marijuana. While the official court file has not yet been released, legal commentators suggest a bail hearing is probable, given his prominence.
This is not the first time Mugabe Jr. has faced legal trouble. Since his father’s death in 2019, he has been involved in a string of controversies. In February 2023, he was arrested for allegedly destroying property worth US$12,000 at a party and for assaulting a police officer, though those charges were later set aside. Earlier the same year, he survived a serious car crash in the Eastern Highlands with only minor injuries.
A former national basketball player, Mugabe Jr. co-founded the streetwear brand xGx and has recently kept a low profile, concentrating on ventures in South Africa with his brother, Chatunga Bellarmine.
His arrest comes amid a broader government clampdown on drug abuse and trafficking. Authorities have intensified operations after a surge in narcotics cases across the region. Just weeks ago, police arrested 14 foreign nationals in a cocaine bust at a Harare lodge, underscoring how international syndicates exploit southern Africa’s porous borders.
In Mugabe Jr.’s case, however, investigators say the matter seems personal rather than linked to organized crime. Neither he nor his family has issued any statement. Efforts to reach his mother, former First Lady Grace Mugabe, were unsuccessful. The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirmed the arrest but said no further details could be provided while the case is before the courts.
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