HARARE – Prosecutors on Wednesday withdrew cyberbullying charges against United Kingdom–based socialite and businesswoman Olinda Chapel before plea, bringing an abrupt end to a case that had landed in court.
Prosecutor Lawrence Gangarahwe told magistrate Ruth Moyo that the state was no longer pursuing the matter, leading to the charges being dropped without Chapel being asked to plead.
With the case withdrawn, Chapel is now set to recover her passport, which had been surrendered as part of her bail conditions.
Chapel had been facing cyberbullying allegations linked to a Facebook Live broadcast in which she was accused of attacking Dyonne Tafirenyika and publishing Tafirenyika’s child on social media. Tafirenyika is the ex-girlfriend of Chapel’s current boyfriend, the musician Desmond Chideme, better known as Stunner.
She had previously appeared in court and was released on US$100 bail, ordered not to interfere with state witnesses and to report fortnightly at Borrowdale Police Station.
Following her court appearance, Chapel issued a written apology and also recorded a live video in which she admitted wrongdoing and accepted responsibility for her conduct.
“I’m making this public apology to Dyonne with full accountability for my actions,” Chapel said. “I deeply regret the way I treated Dyonne and acknowledge that my behaviour was harmful, disrespectful, and completely wrong.”
She conceded to using “demeaning and insulting language,” speaking about Dyonne in a “degrading manner,” and spreading “false and misleading information that damaged her character and reputation.”
Chapel described dragging a child into the dispute as the gravest aspect of her actions, saying she had crossed “an unforgivable boundary.”
“Most seriously, I crossed an unforgivable boundary by involving Dyonne’s child,” she said. “This was wrong on every level.”
She further admitted to posting content involving Dyonne without consent, acknowledging that it violated her privacy and escalated a dispute that should never have been public.
In the same apology, Chapel also said sorry to Kelsie Tafirenyika, whom she admitted mentioning by name while using “offensive, disrespectful, and unacceptable language.” Kelsie is married to one of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s sons.
“There is absolutely no justification for what I did,” Chapel said. “My behaviour was wrong, and I take full responsibility for it.”
She also sought to dismiss speculation around the dispute, stating it “was never about a man,” and said the episode should serve as a lesson that “words have consequences.” – ZimLive
