BULAWAYO – Police on Wednesday thwarted an apparent attempt by the mother and sister of Collins Mnangagwa’s second wife to flee Zimbabwe after authorities launched a money laundering investigation, ZimLive can reveal.
Collins is the twin son of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa.
A private jet that was due to fly his in-laws to Dubai was grounded overnight at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport in Bulawayo and only cleared to leave on Thursday morning – without them.
Law enforcement sources said Amina Jassinta Jessub Arab, mother of Collins’ second wife Kelsea Tadiwa Tafirenyika, and her other daughter Dyonne Tanaka Tafirenyika were detained moments before they were due to board the jet.
They had chosen the airport in Bulawayo hoping to avoid detection.
The aircraft, a Bombardier Global Express with registration A6-AFC and carrying a crew of three men and a woman, was denied permission to take off on Wednesday night after authorities said the control tower was unmanned.
The women were allegedly found with drugs during the dramatic detention, which came on the eve of the High Court granting bail to Kelsea following her August 4 arrest on drug possession charges.
ZimLive understands detectives were waiting outside Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison on Thursday night to re-arrest Kelsea on fresh charges after her release.
Arab was first detained in Harare on August 13, when police seized a Toyota Land Cruiser from her over suspected money laundering. She has alleged that she was assaulted while in custody.
Pictures circulated online on Thursday showed bruising across her body.
The seized vehicle is among at least 54 properties Kelsea is alleged to have acquired using millions of dollars stolen from Collins who owns several mines, sources said.
Police have so far reportedly recovered about 13 of the properties, including vehicles and houses. Investigators believe some of the properties were registered in the names of her relatives, including her mother and sister.
Sources said the first lady has been driving the investigation, accusing Kelsea of introducing her twin son to drugs before allegedly stealing from him while he was under the influence.
She has allegedly demanded that Kelsea and her mother should remove a witchcraft spell they put on her son, which allows them to “get what they want” from him. The ritual allegedly performed by a sangoma is supposed to have taken place at sea in Durban, South Africa.
Collins is believed to be currently in Dubai undergoing rehabilitation for drug addiction. Sources said he has continued supporting Kelsea, including paying her legal fees and helping facilitate the aborted flight.
Neither Auxillia nor Collins has publicly commented on the allegations. The first lady arrived in Bulawayo by road on Thursday for an unrelated event on Friday at which she will meet the elderly.
Repeated attempts to obtain a comment from police spokesman Commissioner Paul Nyathi were unsuccessful.
