R41k Jacket, R0 Accountability: Chatunga Mugabe’s Courtroom Fashion Sparks Fury

When Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe appeared in the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court on Monday, the serious charges against himattempted murder, defeating the ends of justice, and unlawful possession of a firearmshould have been the only story.

Instead, what captured the attention of Zimbabweans and South Africans alike was what he wore.

The 29-year-old son of Zimbabwe’s late former president, Robert Mugabe, arrived in court wearing a Moncler jacket reportedly worth $2,556 (approximately R41,000) a price tag that, in a region grappling with economic hardship, was always going to draw attention .

The Price of a Jacket in a Broken Economy

For most Zimbabweans, the sight of a designer jacket worth tens of thousands of randwhile their own country reels from hyperinflation, unemployment, and povertywas enough to ignite a firestorm on social media.

Prominent Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chinono captured the sentiment in a post that went viral:

“Chatunga is wearing a jacket worth ten months’ salary for a University of Zimbabwe professor. The disconnect between the rich political class in Zimbabwe and the struggling poor masses is enormous” .

The comment struck a nerve. In a country where the majority struggle to afford basic necessities, the display of luxury by the son of the man who ruled for 37 years felt, to many, like a slap in the face.

The Charges Behind the Headlines

The fashion controversy, however, should not distract from the seriousness of the case. Chatunga and his co-accused, Tobias Mugabe Matonhodze, are charged in connection with a shooting at the Mugabe family’s Hyde Park residence last week. A 23-year-old gardener was shot and critically injured .

Police have been unable to locate the firearm allegedly used in the shooting, prompting the additional charge of defeating the ends of justice .

The matter has been postponed to 3 March for a formal bail application, with prosecutors expected to oppose release .

A History of Flashy Courtroom Fashion

Chatunga is not the first person in southern Africa to see his courtroom attire become a story in itself.

In South Africa, alleged crime boss Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala frequently appeared in court wearing high-end designer clothing while facing fraud charges. Convicted killer and prison escapee Thabo Bester was widely photographed in designer suits during his legal proceedings .

Such images consistently spark public outrage, feeding a narrative of inequality and privilege within the justice system. When wealth is displayed so openly in a courtrooma space meant to symbolise equality before the lawit raises uncomfortable questions about who, exactly, can afford justice.

The Deeper Anger

For Zimbabweans, the anger over Chatunga’s jacket is about more than fashion. It’s about a political elite that has lived in luxury while the country collapsed. It’s about a family that ruled for nearly four decades, leaving behind an economy in ruins, yet whose children still flaunt wealth that most cannot fathom.

As one social media user put it: “His father took everything, and now the son walks into court like it’s a runway.”

The irony is sharp. Chatunga faces serious charges that could land him behind bars. But for many watching from Zimbabwe, the real crime happened long before the Hyde Park shootingand the man wearing the R41,000 jacket is simply its latest symbol.

{Source: IOL}

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com