The daughter-in-law of Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been arrested and arraigned over alleged possession and dealing in dangerous drugs following a police raid on her home in Harare.
Kelsea Tadiwa Tafirenyika, 22, who is the second wife of Mnangagwa’s twin son, Collins, appeared before a court on Wednesday.
She was remanded in custody until Thursday when she is expected to appear for a bail hearing. Prosecutors have indicated that they will oppose her release pending trial.
According to court documents, detectives from the Criminal Investigation Department’s Drugs and Narcotics Unit raided Tafirenyika’s residence on Edgehill Close, Greystone Park, after receiving information that she was allegedly selling pethidine from the property.
The raid was carried out on August 4 at about 8pm, with police officers reportedly finding Tafirenyika in her bedroom counting ampoules.
Police said they recovered pethidine and morphine from the bedroom, including eight ampoules of Fresenius Pethidine, 10 ampoules of Verpat Pethidine and seven 1ml ampoules of Fresenius Morphine Sulphate.
A further search of the house allegedly led to the recovery of 72 ampoules of Verpat Pethidine, 64 Fresenius Pethidine ampoules and 43 ampoules of Morphine Sulphate from drawers in the bedroom.
Detectives also searched a white Lamborghini parked at the property and allegedly found five rods of cannabis, locally known as dagga, inside the driver’s armrest.
The prosecution said the investigation followed intelligence received by the police on August 4 concerning alleged drug activities at Tafirenyika’s residence.
The allegations are before the court and have not been proved.
The case comes amid growing concern in Zimbabwe over the trafficking and abuse of prescription drugs and other narcotics.
