FAKE ID, DRUGS AND ‘POLICE BEATINGS’: Tafirenyika’s legal troubles spiral as she remains locked up
Kelsea Tadiwa Tafirenyika’s legal troubles have taken a dramatic turn, with a Harare court hearing that she allegedly used a fake ID bearing another woman’s name — while also facing drug charges and claims of police brutality.
Tafirenyika, 22, allegedly used an identity document in the name of Getrude Badza, but with her own photograph, to conduct business, the court heard.
The Civil Registry reportedly confirmed that Tafirenyika’s own ID was genuine but found no record of the Badza identity.
The explosive allegation emerged as Tafirenyika and her maternal uncle, Isaac Arab Jessub, appeared in court fighting for bail following their arrest during an August 4 raid at her Greystone Park home.
But the hearing became even more dramatic when defence lawyer Malvern Mapako accused officers from the Criminal Investigations Department’s Drugs and Narcotics unit of subjecting the pair to a brutal arrest.
The defence alleged that they were beaten, forced to surrender their mobile phones and pressured into signing seizure certificates.
The investigating officer flatly denied the assault allegations.
Magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa then cleared the courtroom and personally inspected the areas where the pair claimed to have been injured — before ordering both accused to undergo medical examinations while remaining in custody.
Tafirenyika and Jessub are also facing drug-related charges after police allegedly recovered pethidine, morphine and cannabis during the raid.
And the State has opposed bail, arguing that Tafirenyika could be a flight risk.
For the moment, the 22-year-old remains locked up, with no immediate release in sight.
She and Jessub are due back in court on August 12, when a ruling on their bail applications is expected.
The fake-ID, drug and assault allegations remain unproven in court. The investigating officer has denied that police assaulted the accused.