A VIEW OF THE WEEK: Mugabe may lie and fly … just like his mom

Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe and his mother Grace. Picture: ZINYANGE AUNTONY / AFP There was once a powerful figure accused of committing a crime, who promised to cooperate with authorities. They were being “monitored” by law enforcement and expected to appear at a local police station, but instead they detoured to the nearest airport and took a plane out of here.

Efforts to get them back were weak, and they now live the life of a fugitive in name only, with both them and us knowing they will never face the music in our courts. I could have been speaking of several people, from Shepard Bushiri and the Guptas to businessmen involved in multi-billion-rand VAT and tax fraud syndicates. Nearly ten years later, it could be the tale of her son Chatunga Bellarmine Mugabe.

Mugabe, the son of former Zimbabwean president Robert, has lived a life of luxury and privilege in South Africa for several years. Far from reality and accountability. The family mansion he stayed in frequently housed “political exiles” and even some rough characters, with gunfire from the house reportedly as frequent as flu in winter.

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Heappeared in the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court this weekfollowing a labour dispute that nearly turned deadly. Several reports on the incident have emerged, with the state on Monday explaining the cold way in which the victim was allegedly shot in the back, and his body left on the driveway outside.

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