Mnangagwa’s daughter in law’s woes deepen as police allege she used two IDs, remains in custody awaiting bail ruling

THE legal troubles facing President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s daughter-in-law, Kelsea Tadiwa Tafirenyika, deepened Friday after the State alleged she was found using two different national identity documents.

Tafirenyika (22), Collins Mnangagwa’s second wife, will remain in custody after Harare magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa reserved judgment on her bail application to August 12.

She is jointly charged with co-accused Isaac Arab Jessub.

During the bail hearing, the investigating officer told the court that detectives recovered two national identity cards bearing different names but allegedly linked to the accused.

According to the State, one identity card was in the name of Gertrude Badza while the other was in the name of Kelsea Tadiwa Tafirenyika.

The investigating officer said inquiries with the Civil Registry established that Kelsea Tadiwa Tafirenyika was her genuine identity, while the other name did not exist on the registry’s database.

The officer further alleged that police recovered drugs and used syringes from Tafirenyika’s bed during the search of her Greystone Park home.

Friday’s proceedings also focused on allegations that the two accused were assaulted during their arrest.

The court ordered that both Tafirenyika and Jessub undergo medical examinations after they complained of being assaulted by police officers.

Their lawyer, Malvern Mapako, said the order followed their claims that officers used excessive force during the arrest.

“The court has ordered that Tafirenyika and her co-accused be medically examined after they raised complaints against police officers,” Mapako said.

The defence alleges that the pair was subjected to violence, forced to surrender their mobile phones and compelled to sign seizure certificates.

Although the investigating officer denied the allegations, the defence insisted the accused had been heavily beaten, prompting the magistrate to clear the courtroom before inspecting the areas where they claimed to have sustained injuries.

The court will deliver its bail ruling next Wednesday.

Tafirenyika was arrested after detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Drugs and Narcotics unit allegedly recovered pethidine, morphine and cannabis during a raid at her Greystone Park residence August 4.

Prosecutors allege police recovered more than 200 ampoules of pethidine and morphine from her bedroom, while five rolls of cannabis were allegedly found hidden inside her Lamborghini.

The State is opposing bail, arguing that investigations are still underway, that detectives are yet to arrest the alleged supplier of the drugs, and that Tafirenyika poses a flight risk because some of the recovered medicines were allegedly intended for foreign markets. She denies the allegations.