HARARE – A neighbour of Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe has appeared in court on charges of allowing his dogs to roam on the 90-year old president’s private residence, state media reported Friday.

“President Mugabe’s 55-year old neighbour appeared in court yesterday (Thursday) on allegations of setting his dogs to hunt buck at the President’s private residence in Borrowdale,” state-owned The Herald newspaper reported.

The paper said Michael Pazarangu was charged for “letting his unmuzzled ferocious dogs roam freely” which strayed into Mugabe’s property and killed a buck.

Pazarangu pleaded not guilty and was given free bail by the magistrate’s court. He is set for a June 24 trial, the paper said.

Mugabe owns a private house in the plush Borrowdale suburb on the outskirts of the capital Harare.

Early this year, it was the venue of his daughter’s elaborate wedding attended by 4,000 guests.