Three people including a relative of Robert Mugabe have appeared in court charged with stealing a suitcase containing $150,000 (£117,000) in cash from the former Zimbabwean president.

The suspected thieves are alleged to have spent the money on a house, cars and livestock including pigs and cattle.

Constancia Mugabe, 50, a relative of the deposed leader, is among the accused.

She is alleged to have given keys to Mr Mugabe’s house in rural Zvimba district to co-conspirators Johanne Mapurisa, 50, and Saymore Nhetekwa, 47, giving them access to the case.

The theft occurred sometime after 1 December, Chinhoyi magistrates heard.

State prosecutor Teveraishe Zinyemba told the court that Ms Mapurisa, a cleaner for Mr Mugabe, bought a Toyota Camry car and a house for $20,000 (£16,000).

Mr Nhetekwa, also a cleaner, spent his share of the cash on a Honda vehicle, pigs and cattle.

The three defendants were bailed to return on 24 January. Police are hunting a fourth suspect.

According to the state-owned Herald newspaper, the chief prosecution witness in the case is a manager at a charity run by Grace Mugabe, the former president’s wife.

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Mr Mugabe, now 94, was forced out of office by Zimbabwe’s military in 2017.

During his 37-year reign, he enjoyed a lavish lifestyle while presiding over an economic crisis.

He has suffered from ill health since being deposed and has spent several months in Singapore for treatment.