Warrants issued for 3 women in Bulawayo drug case

Three women facing drug-related charges in Bulawayo are at risk of arrest after failing to appear in court, prompting magistrate Mark Dzira to issue warrants for their arrest.

Amina Jassinta Jessub Arab, Dyonne Tanaka Tafirenyika and Noreen Jessub were expected to appear before Dzira, but their absence led to the court issuing the warrants.

According to ZimLive, their lawyer, Brezhnev Mathonsi, told the court that the women were travelling from Harare. However, the magistrate rejected the explanation, saying they should have travelled a day earlier to ensure they arrived on time.

"They knew they were supposed to appear today; they should have travelled yesterday," Dzira was quoted as saying.

The women were arrested at a lodge in Bulawayo's Ilanda suburb following a police search of their rooms, according to the National Prosecuting Authority.

Prosecutors allege that police found two sachets of cocaine, valued at ZiG9,000, concealed inside a shoe in Jessub's room, while two additional sachets of cocaine were allegedly recovered from Arab's room.

In Tafirenyika's room, officers reportedly discovered a sachet of crystal methamphetamine, another sachet of cocaine and US$53,055 in cash.

Investigating officer Phillimon Gumberu opposed their release on bail, arguing that the evidence against them was substantial and that they could abscond. He also alleged that Tafirenyika had failed to account for the money recovered from her room.

The allegations have yet to be determined by the courts.

The latest development follows a September ruling by the Bulawayo High Court, where Justice Munamato Mutevedzi granted the three women bail of US$1,000 each after they successfully appealed an earlier decision denying them release.