Court Correspondent
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s daughter-in-law, Kelsea Tadiwa Tafirenyika, is set to approach the High Court for bail after a Harare magistrate on Wednesday denied her release in a money-laundering case involving assets valued at about US$9.5 million.
Harare regional magistrate Francis Mapfumo rejected Tafirenyika’s bail application, ruling that her financial resources created a substantial risk that she could abscond if released.
Mapfumo said the 22-year-old was financially “liquid” and had the means to relocate and sustain herself virtually anywhere in the world, making her a potential flight risk.
Tafirenyika is the second wife of Collins Mnangagwa, one of President Mnangagwa’s twin sons. She is facing money-laundering charges alongside allegations relating to possession of dangerous drugs.
Tafirenyika’s lawyers, Admire Rubaya, Everson Chatambudza of Rubaya and Chatambudza Legal Practitioners, Malvern Mapako and Tiriwamambo Kangai of Venturasand Samukange Legal Practitioners had argued that she was a suitable candidate for bail and disputed the State’s allegations.
In earlier proceedings, Tafirenyika told the court that properties worth about US$9 million and other assets were gifts from her husband. She argued that Collins Mnangagwa had a substantial business empire and was financially capable of purchasing the assets for her.
The defence maintained that ownership of expensive properties and luxury vehicles did not, on its own, constitute evidence of criminal conduct.
Following the dismissal of her bail application, her lawyers are now preparing to approach the High Court seeking her release.
Tafirenyika was arrested on the money-laundering allegations about two weeks ago, shortly after she had been released on bail in a separate case involving alleged possession of drugs valued at US$300.
Court papers placed before the magistrate put the value of her listed movable and immovable assets at approximately US$9.35 million.
The State alleges that the properties and other assets were acquired using proceeds from drug peddling.
The defence has rejected the allegation, arguing that the alleged drugs at the centre of the earlier case were valued at only about US$300, making it implausible that they could have generated wealth running into millions of dollars.
The asset schedule lists 10 properties collectively valued at approximately US$6.745 million, while the vehicles are valued at about US$2.609 million.
The properties are located in some of Harare’s most affluent suburbs, including Borrowdale Brooke, Borrowdale, Chisipite, Highlands, Gunhill, Mount Pleasant and Vainona.
Among them is a Borrowdale Brooke property valued at approximately US$1.1 million, while the other properties are reportedly valued between US$350,000 and US$850,000.
The vehicle portfolio includes two Lamborghinis, two Bentley Continentals, a Rolls-Royce, a Land Rover, a Jaguar and a Toyota Corolla.
The bail ruling comes amid a separate controversy involving Tafirenyika and members of the First Family.
A week before Wednesday’s ruling, Tafirenyika, through her lawyers Admire Rubaya and Everson Chatambudza, apologised to First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa and sought an “amicable resolution” to a dispute involving members of the Mnangagwa family.
Her lawyers denied that their client had participated in any campaign aimed at scandalising the First Lady or the Mnangagwa family.
