10 mansions in Zimbabwe, 13 more in South Africa and Dubai, multiple supercars — Second wife (aged 22) to Mnangagwa’s son Collins remanded over money laundering from alleged profits proceeds of selling drugs
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s daughter-in-law, Kelsea Tadiwa Tafirenyika, was Friday remanded in custody after prosecutors accused her of laundering proceeds from alleged drug dealing through a multimillion-dollar property and vehicle portfolio.
Tafirenyika, who is married to Mnangagwa’s twin son Collins, appeared before magistrate Feresi Chakanyuka facing two charges of money laundering and possession of a forged national identity document.
She was arrested on Thursday, just hours after she had been released from prison on US$1,000 bail granted by the High Court in a separate matter.
Prosecutor Lawrence Gagarahwe opposed her release on bail, relying on an affidavit by Detective Assistant Inspector Gift Machipisa of the CID Drugs and Narcotics unit.
The State alleges that Tafirenyika accumulated assets worth about US$9,353,750 in Zimbabwe between January 2023 and August 2026 using proceeds from the alleged dealing in pethidine hydrochloride, morphine sulphate and dagga
The figure covers nine vehicles and 10 properties listed in the State papers.
The affidavit says the amount is exclusive of a Toyota Land Cruiser, although the annexure separately assigns the vehicle a value of US$241,250.
According to the State, the properties and vehicles allegedly linked to Tafirenyika include:
– A Toyota Corolla, registration AGT 0610-US$19,200
– A Lamborghini, registration AHS 0856-US$561,000
– A Lamborghini, registration KTT11-US$577,300
– A Bentley Continental sedan, registration AHF 8374 – US$380,000
– A Toyota Land Cruiser, registration AHQ 2800-US$241,250
– A Land Rover, registration AHN 0652 – US$380,000
– A Bentley Continental, registration KELSEA – US$110,000
– A Jaguar, registration AGP 3755 – US$340,000
– A Rolls-Royce, registration SCOTTKUPA – the annexure does not state a value.
The immovable properties listed by the State are:
– 25 Carrick Creagh Road, Borrowdale Brooke – US$1.1 million
– 12 Borrowdale Road, Borrowdale – US$750,000
– 6 Whitewell Road, Chisipite – US$800,000
– 31 Alpes Road, Vainona – US$350,000
– 22 Enterprise Road, Highlands – US$700,000
– 8 Gunhill Avenue, Gunhill – US$450,000
– 17 Churchill Avenue, Mount Pleasant – US$520,000
– 14 Kingsmead Road East, Borrowdale – US$850,000
– 39 Rayl Road, Borrowdale – US$575,000
– 27 Fisher Avenue, Borrowdale – US$650,000
The State alleges that Tafirenyika also acquired 13 properties outside Zimbabwe in Dubai and South Africa, although the properties and their values were not specified in the remand papers.
Prosecutors further allege that she created three companies including Apex Logistics Pvt Ltd, Royal Printing Pvt Ltd and With Three Investments Pvt Ltd – which were allegedly used as vehicles to conceal and layer proceeds of crime.
Machipisa said the State case was supported by documentary and physical evidence rather than relying solely on witness testimony.
“The State case does not rest upon inference or upon the recollection of witnesses alone. It is anchored in institutional records and in real evidence already in the possession of the police,” he said.
The evidence includes Central Vehicle Registry records allegedly linking nine vehicles to Tafirenyika, title deeds and Deeds Registry searches for the 10 properties, and the allegedly forged identity document.
Police said they had also identified about 10 witnesses whose statements were still being recorded.
The State argued that Tafirenyika posed a flight risk because of her alleged foreign assets, international travel and access to overseas jurisdictions.
Machipisa said she had “a residence, and a financial base, in each of two foreign jurisdictions to which she may withdraw.”
The State also relied on the second charge, alleging that Tafirenyika possessed a national identity document bearing the name Getrude Badza, which investigators say was not issued by the Registrar-General.
“The allegation in Count Two is directly material to this ground,” Machipisa said, arguing that possession of an identity document in another person’s name demonstrated “both the willingness and the practical capacity to assume a false identity.”
The State further alleged that Tafirenyika was already facing another pending criminal matter when the latest offences were allegedly committed.
“She is, in other words, alleged to have committed the present offences while already answerable to the criminal courts in another matter,” Machipisa said.
Police also opposed bail on the basis that some of the properties were allegedly registered in the names of Tafirenyika’s relatives, whom the State intends to call as witnesses.
The investigating officer said those witnesses could be vulnerable to interference because of their family and financial relationships with the accused.
“The risk that the accused, if released, would prevail upon them to withhold their co-operation from the Police is neither speculative nor remote,” he said.
The State said its investigations were still at an early stage, with outstanding work including recording witness statements, obtaining certified registry documents, analysing banking and financial records and tracing assets held outside Zimbabwe.
Police also said they intended to approach Interpol for a Silver Notice to trace and potentially seize alleged criminal assets abroad and seek mutual legal assistance from South Africa, the United Arab Emirates and other jurisdictions.
“The investigation is expected to be concluded within two months of the date of this affidavit.” Machipisa said.
The State alleges that Tafirenyika’s acquisition of the assets was not an isolated transaction but part of a course of conduct spanning about three-and-a-half years.
The money-laundering charge arises under Section 8(1) of the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act, while the forged-document charge is under Section 10(1)(g) of the National Registration Act.
Tafirenyika was remanded in custody until Monday when her bail application is expected to be heard. *_-NewZimbabwe_*
