Missing gun casts shadow over Chatunga Mugabe’s court appearance

When Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe walks into the dock at the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court on Monday, one crucial piece of the puzzle will still be unaccounted for.

The firearm police believe was used in the Hyde Park shooting has not been found.

And in a case already attracting intense public interest, that missing weapon could become the central question.

A shooting in Hyde Park

The alleged incident took place at an upmarket residence in Hyde Park, a suburb better known for its luxury estates than violent crime scenes.

A 23-year-old employee at the property was left critically injured. Authorities have not yet disclosed what sparked the shooting, and the motive remains under investigation.

Two men were arrested at the residence on Thursday and face charges of attempted murder. Among them is Chatunga, 28, the youngest son of former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe.

The missing “smoking gun”

Police confirmed that spent cartridges were recovered from the scene a vital clue for forensic teams. But the weapon believed to have fired those rounds is still missing.

Investigators, including K9 units and forensic specialists, have been combing the property and surrounding areas. Without the firearm, ballistic experts will rely heavily on the recovered cartridges to determine trajectory, distance and potentially link the ammunition to a specific weapon type.

Legal analysts say the absence of the gun does not automatically weaken the case. However, it does raise questions that the court process will likely explore in detail.

A name that draws attention

The Mugabe surname carries weight across southern Africa. Past legal controversies involving members of the family in South Africa have ensured that any new case quickly becomes headline news.

On social media, reaction has been swift and divided. Some users are calling for equal treatment under the law, insisting that prominence should neither shield nor prejudice an accused person. Others are speculating about political undertones, though authorities have provided no indication that politics played any role.

In Johannesburg, the case is being watched closely not only because of who is involved, but because of where it happened, in a city already grappling with concerns over violent crime.

What happens next?

As proceedings begin, more details are expected to emerge about the circumstances leading up to the shooting.

For now, investigators continue searching for the missing firearm a critical piece of evidence that could help reconstruct exactly what happened inside the Hyde Park property.

Until then, the unanswered question lingers: where is the gun?

The court process may soon bring clarity. But for now, the case remains as much about what hasn’t been found as what already has.

{Source: The Citizen}

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