Mnangagwa Daughter-in-Law Denies Drug Charges and Accuses Police of Scandalising First Family
- Tafirenyika faces charges of dealing in dangerous drugs, possessing a forged identity document issued in the name of Getrude Badza, and acquiring real estate with proceeds from illicit...
- In a separate letter addressed to President Mnangagwa and the First Lady, Tafirenyika issued a profuse apology for the controversy surrounding her arrest, as reported by ZimLive and...
- The defence accused authorities of abusing the criminal justice system through what they described as drip justice, alleging that police arrest Tafirenyika on new charges each time she...
Bail Hearing and Property Ownership Claims
Tafirenyika faces charges of dealing in dangerous drugs, possessing a forged identity document issued in the name of Getrude Badza, and acquiring real estate with proceeds from illicit activities. Defence lawyers Admire Rubaya, Everson Chatambudza, Malvern Mapako, and Kangai told the court that the investigating officer admitted to having no confirmation from local authorities or the Deeds Registry linking Tafirenyika to the disputed properties. Defence counsel also dismissed claims regarding properties in Dubai, noting that police conceded they had not yet engaged diplomatic authorities to verify the allegations.
Apology Letter to the First Family
In a separate letter addressed to President Mnangagwa and the First Lady, Tafirenyika issued a profuse apology for the controversy surrounding her arrest, as reported by ZimLive and NewZimbabwe. Her legal team emphasized that she never sought to drag the First Family into her legal proceedings.
Much as our client vehemently denies the allegations levelled against her, she wishes to place on record that she has at no stage dragged your name, Amai, into this debacle,
her lawyers stated in the letter, adding that the association, such as it is, has been manufactured by others; opportunists, detractors and adversaries of the First Family who appear determined to exploit any proximity, however tenuous, to cause disharmony.
Legal Challenges to State Prosecution
The defence accused authorities of abusing the criminal justice system through what they described as drip justice, alleging that police arrest Tafirenyika on new charges each time she secures bail rather than bringing all allegations forward at once. Tafirenyika also denied possessing the drugs recovered during the police search, claiming officers planted the US$204 worth of substances at her home. Furthermore, her lawyers argued that the State presented no witnesses who bought or received drugs from her, and contended that her alleged wealth makes the State’s flight-risk argument irrational.
This is a 22-year-old you say has 22 properties worth close to US$20 million.
The State continues to oppose bail, citing concerns that Tafirenyika might abscond or interfere with ongoing investigations.