Robert Mugabe Jnr, the 33-year-old son of late Zimbabwean president Robert Gabriel Mugabe, has been found guilty of illegal drug possession by a Harare magistrate.

The ruling was delivered by Magistrate Lisa Mutendereki after Mugabe Jnr appeared in court on Thursday. During proceedings, he pleaded for leniency, telling the court he is a single father raising two young children. His sentencing is expected later this afternoon.

The verdict follows a week of legal drama after Mugabe Jnr failed to appear for his initial hearing. A warrant of arrest was issued when he missed the trial date, and court officials were forced to call his name three times outside the courtroom before Magistrate Mutendereki authorised the warrant.

He was charged under Zimbabwe’s Dangerous Drugs Act, which prohibits the possession or use of controlled substances without proper authorisation. Authorities have not disclosed the specific type or quantity of drugs found in his possession.

In mitigation, Mugabe Jnr’s lawyer urged the court to consider his family responsibilities and his cooperation with police. Prosecutors, however, argued that the court must send a strong message that no one regardless of status is above the law.

The conviction marks a rare legal blow to the Mugabe family, once Zimbabwe’s most powerful political dynasty. While his late father ruled the country for nearly four decades, Mugabe Jnr has largely avoided politics, focusing instead on business and social ventures.

Sentencing will determine whether he faces a custodial sentence or a fine, a decision closely watched for its potential impact on how Zimbabwean courts handle high-profile drug-related offences.

Erizia Rubyjeana

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