The mother-in-law of Collins Mnangagwa and two other women accused of drug offences were granted bail by the Bulawayo High Court on Thursday, more than a month after their arrest.
Amina Jassinta Jessub Arab, 47, her daughter Dyonne Tanaka Tafirenyika, 28, and their relative Noreen Jessub, 51, were arrested on 19 August at a lodge in Ilanda, Bulawayo.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), police allegedly found two sachets of cocaine worth ZiG9,000 hidden inside a shoe in Jessub’s room, and two sachets of cocaine in Arab’s room.
In Tafirenyika’s room, officers allegedly recovered a sachet of crystal methamphetamine, a sachet of cocaine and US$53,055 in cash.
Justice Munamato Mutevedzi granted the trio US$1,000 bail each on Thursday, 24 September, on their fourth attempt, despite opposition from the NPA.
As part of their bail conditions, they must surrender their passports and report twice a week to Hatfield Police Station in Harare.
Through their lawyer, Admire Rubaya, the women argued that circumstances had changed since their last bail application was dismissed.
Rubaya told the court that no trial date had been set, there were concerns about the validity of the affidavits the state was relying on, and there was still no forensic evidence to confirm that the substances recovered were drugs.
He added that prosecutors had said investigations were completed on 2 September, yet the women had still not been served with the state’s papers.
Arab is the mother of Kelsea Tadiwa Tefirenyika, who is married to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s twin son, Collins.
Kelsea is herself out on bail on separate drug and money-laundering charges.
The three women are due back at the Bulawayo Magistrates Court on 30 September.
More: ZimLive
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