Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe arrived back in Zimbabwe on Wednesday night, drawing attention after a circulating video showed him landing at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport following his deportation from South Africa.
In the widely shared footage, Mugabe is seen being picked up shortly after arrival in what appears to be a luxury Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon, a moment that has since triggered debate on social media over his reception back home.
Deportation follows court conviction
His return comes after legal proceedings in South Africa, where the National Prosecuting Authority confirmed his sentencing alongside his cousin Tobias Matonhodze.
The pair were convicted in the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court over a violent incident that took place on 19 February 2026 at a residence in Hyde Park, Johannesburg.
According to evidence presented in court, a security guard, Sipho Mahlangu, was assaulted and shot in the back while attempting to flee.
He later collapsed outside the property, where he was discovered and authorities were alerted.
Guilty pleas and sentencing
Both accused entered guilty pleas in April.
Mugabe admitted to contravening immigration laws and also pleaded guilty to pointing a firearm in a separate incident.
His co-accused Matonhodze pleaded guilty to attempted murder, with forensic evidence linking him to the shooting.
The court handed Mugabe a 24-month sentence or a fine of R400,000 for the firearm offence, along with an additional 18 months or a R200,000 fine for immigration violations.
He was subsequently deported to Zimbabwe.
Matonhodze, however, received a direct three-year prison sentence to be served in South Africa.
Mixed reactions back home
Back in Zimbabwe, Chatunga Mugabe’s arrival, particularly the optics of being collected in a high-end vehicle, has sparked mixed reactions.
While some view it as a routine return following deportation, others have questioned the contrast between the seriousness of the charges and the apparent ease of his re-entry into the country.
The NPA said the case sends a strong message that violent crime and disregard for immigration laws will not be tolerated, emphasising that no individual is above the law.
