Mugabe Jr Convicted for Cannabis Possession in Rare Case Targeting Political Elite

 

By Phanice Rono 

 Robert Tinotenda Mugabe Jr, son of Zimbabwe’s late former president Robert Mugabe, has been formally convicted for illegal possession of cannabis in a case that has drawn nationwide attention due to his prominent political lineage.

The 33-year-old appeared before Harare Magistrate Lisa Mutendereki, where he admitted to carrying small sachets of marijuana in his sling bag at the time of his arrest. Police stopped him during a routine traffic operation after he reportedly drove against the flow of traffic on a one-way street in central Harare. A subsequent search uncovered two grams of cannabis, rolling papers and a grinder.

In court, Mugabe Jr described himself as a “first-time offender” and pleaded for leniency, telling the magistrate that he works as a farmer and is a single father responsible for two children. Magistrate Mutendereki imposed a US$300 fine and handed down a three-month prison term, which was fully suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence.

Investigators confirmed that forensic analysis verified the substance as cannabis. While the arrest stemmed from a traffic stop, police acknowledged that Mugabe Jr had been under broader scrutiny after his name surfaced in a separate drug-trafficking probe. However, no additional charges were presented in court, and the magistrate ruled solely on the issue of personal possession.

Legal observers say the conviction is remarkable in a country where members of the political elite rarely face criminal penalties for drug-related offences. Some analysts argue that the ruling may signal a shift toward stricter law enforcement regardless of social or political status.

Mugabe Jr, who has not filed any appeal, remains free after paying the fine. Authorities warn that any future drug-related arrest would trigger the suspended sentence.