A son of the former president of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, has been arrested on suspicion of vandalizing property at a Harare party.
According to his attorney, 31-year-old Robert Mugabe junior is charged with three counts of malicious damage to property and two counts of assault on a police officer.
Reportedly, car windshields were broken and an officer was spat upon.
He denies the accusations and asserts his innocence. He has been released and is seeking a peaceful resolution.
The arrest was the result of a complaint from his 31-year-old acquaintance Sindiso Nkatazo, according to a police tweet. In addition, they stated that the destroyed property was worth $12,000 (£10,000).
Mr. Mugabe junior is the second child of the former president and Grace, his widow.
ZimLive published a video of Mr. Mugabe junior walking to Harare Magistrates’ Court while wearing a suit and facemask, trailed by a swarm of people who took pictures of him with their mobile phones.
Ashiel Mugiya, his attorney, said in court that the prosecutors had not conducted a comprehensive investigation and offered an out-of-court settlement because Mr. Mugabe junior and the accuser are friends.
Mr. Muyiga stated that the son of the former president will be summoned back to court if these negotiations fail. The allegations of assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest are likely to be dropped, he noted.
In 2019, former President Robert Mugabe passed away at the age of 95, two years after being forced to retire after 37 years in office.
In the 1970s, he led the struggle against white minority rule in Rhodesia but was later accused of employing violence to win elections and damaging Zimbabwe’s economy.
Analysts believe it is highly improbable that his son would have been imprisoned if his father were still president.
Mr. Mugabe was ousted by Emmerson Mnangagwa, his longtime right-hand man.
Once he was accused of betraying Zimbabwe’s longtime leader, relations between him and the Mugabe family were strained.
Grace, his widow, had aspirations of replacing her husband but was sidelined by Mr. Mnangagwa’s allies.
Mr. Mugabe junior has now reconciled with President Mnangagwa and attended a rally in which he was formally welcomed back into the ruling Zanu-PF party last year.
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