By Tichaona Katsvamutima
Money laundering charges involving nearly US$9.3 million against Kelsea Tafirenyika, the second wife of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s twin son Collins, have been dropped after prosecutors concluded there was insufficient evidence to secure a conviction.
The development comes as Kelsea, 22, and three of her relatives have all escaped prison in separate drug-related cases after negotiating guilty pleas with prosecutors, with the cases ending in fines rather than custodial sentences.
Kelsea’s mother, Amina Jassinta Jessub Arab, 47, her sister Dyonne Tanaka Tafirenyika, 28, and her aunt Noreen Jessub, 51, were each fined after changing their pleas to guilty at the Bulawayo Magistrates Court.
The trio had been scheduled to stand trial on November 5 and 6. However, court officials revealed on Thursday that they had secured an earlier hearing on November 2 before regional magistrate Mark Dzira, where they entered guilty pleas following negotiations between prosecutors and defence lawyers.
Amina was fined US$200 or 20 days in prison in default of payment. Noreen was fined US$250 or 25 days, while Dyonne received a US$300 fine or 30 days behind bars if she fails to pay.
The three women were arrested on August 19 at a lodge in Bulawayo’s Ilanda suburb during a police operation in which officers recovered cocaine, crystal methamphetamine and large sums of cash.
Police found two sachets of cocaine worth ZiG9,000 concealed inside a shoe in Noreen’s room, while another two sachets were recovered from Amina’s room.
In Dyonne’s room, officers discovered a sachet of crystal methamphetamine, another sachet of cocaine and US$53,055 in cash.
Kelsea had already concluded her own plea agreement in Harare on October 8.
She pleaded guilty to unauthorised possession of prescription preparatory medicines after being found with pethidine and morphine sulphate at a house in Greystone Park on August 4, 2026, in violation of the Medicines and Allied Substances Control Act.
Harare magistrate Ignatio Kudakwashe Mhene fined her US$300 for the offence.
On a separate count, she admitted possessing five prepared rolls of cannabis weighing 0.004kg and was fined an additional US$100.
The negotiated pleas, reached following discussions between prosecutors and defence lawyers led by Advocate Silvester Hashiti, brought an abrupt end to cases that had threatened to develop into a prolonged legal battle for the family.
