Kelsea Tafirenyika denied bail in US$9.3 million money-laundering case

Regional magistrate Francis Mapfumo dismissed her bail application, ruling that she was a flight risk if released.

The court found that Tafirenyika was “liquid” and “could abscond” because she allegedly had sufficient resources to sustain herself outside Zimbabwe.

She will remain in custody facing allegations involving properties said to have been acquired using proceeds of drug-related activities.

The State had opposed bail, with investigating officer Gift Machipisa telling the court that Tafirenyika was a flight risk due to properties she allegedly owns outside Zimbabwe, including in South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.

Machipisa said authorities were engaging Interpol to help trace and recover the foreign assets.

Tafirenyika denies the allegations. She maintains that the properties, said to be worth about US$9 million, were gifts from her husband and constitute matrimonial assets.

She has also told police that her arrest was driven by detractors of the First Family and was unrelated to drug possession allegations.

She was re-arrested last week shortly after being released from remand in a separate case in which she was accused of drug possession.

She is represented by lawyers Admire Rubaya, Everson Chatambudza, Malvern Mapako and Kangai.

Another twist in the case involves an identity document allegedly issued under the name Getrude Badza but bearing Tafirenyika’s face.

Her lawyers have challenged the document as fake and suggested it could have been manufactured using artificial intelligence.