Socialite Kelsea Tafirenyika denied bail in drug case
Socialite Kelsea Tadiwa Tafirenyika, the 22-year-old second wife of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s son Collins, has been denied bail after appearing in court on charges of unlawfully dealing in dangerous drugs.
Harare regional magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa denied bail to Tafirenyika and her uncle, Isaac Jessub, ruling that the pair posed a flight risk and a potential danger to society
The court said there were no bail conditions that could adequately prevent them from absconding or allegedly committing further offences.
Tafirenyika was arrested on August 4 following a raid by detectives from the CID Drugs and Narcotics Unit at her Greystone Park home
According to the State, police allegedly recovered more than 200 ampoules of pethidine and morphine from her bedroom, while five rolls of cannabis were allegedly found concealed in the driver’s armrest of her white Lamborghini
Prosecutors allege the drugs were part of a wider supply operation and say investigations are continuing to trace the suspected supplier.
The bail proceedings also took a dramatic turn after investigators told the court that two national identity documents had allegedly been recovered, one bearing Tafirenyika’s name and another bearing the name Gertrude Badza.
The State argued that the second identity document heightened concerns that she could evade prosecution.
Tafirenyika and Jessub have denied the allegations. They also alleged that police assaulted them during their arrest and forced them to sign seizure certificates. Police denied the claims, while the court ordered medical examinations after the complaints were raised.
The court has remanded the matter to August 27 to allow further investigations.
The allegations against Tafirenyika and Jessub have not been tested in court, and both remain presumed innocent until proven guilty.