Four former employees of the Mugabe family, Allen Chinamonya (42), Danmore Chinamonya (35), Samson Karonga, and Brighton Bunganirwa (46), are in custody for allegedly stealing household items from containers stored at a property in Harare. The four defendants were responsible for guarding and maintaining the property, but instead, they allegedly conspired to break into the containers and steal valuable items.

According to court records, in 2018, Grace Mugabe had 11 containers transported from State House to the property, containing various household items following the former President’s ouster in 2017. The containers held a range of items, including television sets, clothing, cutlery, and bath towels, among others. Despite securing the containers with padlocks, the four defendants allegedly broke into the containers between 2018 and May 2024, stealing numerous items.

The theft was discovered on May 22, 2024, when Grace Mugabe visited the containers to select artifacts once belonging to her late husband for donation to the African Liberation Museum. Upon inspection, she found that several items were missing, prompting her to report the incident to the authorities.