Mnangagwa In-laws to Stand Two-day Trial in November
Three in-laws of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s son accused of drug offences will stand trial on November 5 and 6, a court heard on Wednesday after issuing and later cancelling warrants for their arrest when they failed to appear for a scheduled hearing.
Amina Jassinta Jessub Arab, 47, her daughter Dyonne Tanaka Tafirenyika, 28, and their relative Noreen Jessub, 51, were due in court at 8AM but failed to appear after their names were called three times.
Arab is the mother of Kelsea Tafirenyika, the second wife of Mnangagwa’s twin son, Collins. Kelsea faces separate drug and money laundering charges in Harare.
Prosecutor Joseph Rugara told magistrate Mark Dzira that the women’s lawyer had informed him they were delayed while travelling from Harare, where they primarily reside.
“Their lawyer communicated that they are on their way from Harare. If the court will allow, let us stand down the matter,” Rugara said.
Dzira rejected the explanation and issued warrants for the three women’s arrest.
“That cannot be a reason for absconding court. They knew that they were supposed to appear today. They should have come yesterday,” the magistrate said.
The women later arrived in court, as their lawyer applied to have the warrants cancelled. The National Prosecuting Authority did not oppose the application.
“We should give them a warning that they should respect the court’s time,” Rugara said.
Dzira granted the application and warned the women to make their travel arrangements in good time to avoid missing future hearings.
“The matter has been set down for a two-day trial on November 5 and 6. You are going to appear in Court D,” Dzira told the trio.
The women are out on US$1,000 bail each, granted by the Bulawayo High Court on September 24, more than a month after their arrest on August 19 at a lodge in Bulawayo’s Ilanda suburb.
Their bail conditions include surrendering their passports and reporting twice a week at Hatfield Police Station in Harare.
Prosecutors allege that police recovered two sachets of cocaine worth ZiG9,000 from Jessub’s room, hidden inside a shoe, and two sachets of cocaine from Arab’s room.
