The Harare Provincial Magistrate’s Court on Thursday sentenced Robert Mugabe Jr., son of Zimbabwe’s late president, for possession of marijuana. Mugabe, 33, appeared before Magistrate Lisa Mutendereki and pleaded guilty to illegally possessing two grams of the drug.
During his plea, Mugabe requested leniency, describing himself as a first-time offender, a single father of two, a farmer, and a professional earning US$7,000 per month.
He was initially arrested in October during a police operation in Harare’s central business district after allegedly driving against traffic. Authorities found two grams of marijuana in two sachets, along with a marijuana crusher, in his sling bag. The substance was valued at approximately Ksh. 3,700. Mugabe was granted a $300 bail but failed to appear for a subsequent court date, prompting the issuance of a temporary arrest warrant that was later rescinded.
On Thursday, the court fined Mugabe $300 (Ksh. 38,800) and imposed a three-month suspended sentence, contingent on no further drug-related offences over the next five years.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police had attempted to link Mugabe to a broader cartel allegedly involving children of prominent citizens, though the court did not uphold this connection.
The verdict follows a week of legal drama after Mugabe missed his initial hearing. Officials had to call his name multiple times before the magistrate authorized the temporary warrant.
The conviction represents a rare legal setback for the Mugabe family, historically Zimbabwe’s most influential political dynasty. While his father ruled for nearly four decades, Mugabe Jr. has primarily focused on business and social ventures. President Emmerson Mnangagwa has consistently emphasized a zero-tolerance policy on drugs, describing substance abuse as a “moral cancer” and a societal threat.
