Kelsea Tadiwa Tafirenyika, the 22-year-old second wife of Collins Mnangagwa, son of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, was remanded in custody on Wednesday after a Harare magistrate postponed her bail hearing to Thursday. The State successfully argued that her immediate release would jeopardise ongoing investigations into an alleged drug dealing network.
Tafirenyika faces a charge of unlawfully dealing in dangerous drugs following a police raid at her Greystone Park residence on Tuesday night. According to court papers, detectives from the CID Drugs and Narcotics unit acted on a tip-off and allegedly found her in her bedroom counting ampoules. Officers recovered 154 ampoules of pethidine, 50 ampoules of morphine sulphate, and five rolls of dagga from her home and vehicle, with the drugs valued at US$204.
In opposing bail, investigating officer Detective Sergeant Neverd Charuma stated that police are still pursuing the alleged supplier of the drugs. The State further argued that Tafirenyika is a flight risk because some of the recovered pethidine was packaged for foreign markets, suggesting she has foreign ties. Prosecutors also claimed she could resume contact with her supplier if released and might commit a similar offence.
The magistrate remanded Tafirenyika in custody until Thursday, when arguments on her bail application are expected to be heard. The case has drawn public attention due to her connection to the first family.
