HARARE — Socialite Kelsea Tafirenyika has accused detractors of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s family of exploiting her drug and money laundering case to scandalise the First Family, while challenging police to prove claims that she owns 22 properties allegedly acquired through proceeds of crime.
Tafirenyika, who is married to Collins Mnangagwa, has denied allegations that she dealt in dangerous drugs and used the proceeds to acquire properties worth millions of dollars.
She is also accused of possessing a forged national identity card in the name of Getrude Badza bearing her photograph, an allegation she denies.
Through her lawyers Admire Rubaya, Everson Chatambudza, Malvern Mapako and Kangai, Tafirenyika accused police of generating fictitious figures and making unverified claims about her property ownership, which she said were being amplified on social media to tarnish the First Family.
Her lawyers said Tafirenyika had told the investigating officer that she did not own the alleged properties and that properties registered in her name were matrimonial acquisitions jointly owned with her husband.
The defence argued that police failed to investigate that explanation before taking her to court.
Tafirenyika has since written to President Mnangagwa and First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa apologising over the manner in which the case has drawn the First Family into controversy.
“Much as our client vehemently denies the allegations levelled against her, she wishes to place on record that she has at no stage dragged your name, Amai, into this debacle.
“The association, such as it is, has been manufactured by others; opportunists, detractors and adversaries of the First Family who appear determined to exploit any proximity, however tenuous, to cause disharmony.
“Our client is not a party to that scandalous enterprise, and neither are we. She profusely apologizes for what has befallen the name of the First Family consequent to the stance she has taken to defend herself against the criminal charges she is currently facing,” the letter reads.
Her lawyers also accused police of having “arrested to investigate,” after the investigating officer said authorities were still awaiting confirmation from council or the Registrar of Deeds regarding Tafirenyika’s alleged ownership of the properties.
The defence alleged that investigators had “plucked” the list of properties from social media without first establishing whether they belonged to Tafirenyika.
They also challenged the investigating officer to substantiate claims that she owns property in Dubai. The officer said authorities were yet to engage the required diplomatic channels to verify the allegation.
Tafirenyika’s lawyers further accused police of “abusing the criminal justice system” and administering “drip justice” by bringing charges against her in stages.
They questioned why police did not bring all the charges at once, arguing that the allegedly forged identity card was discovered during the same raid in which police say they recovered drugs from Tafirenyika’s home.
Tafirenyika has also denied possessing the drugs and accused police of “planting” them in her house to justify her arrest.
Her defence argued that investigators have not identified anyone who allegedly bought drugs from Tafirenyika or exchanged money with her for drugs.
The lawyers also questioned whether US$204 worth of the alleged drugs could support accusations that she was dealing in dangerous drugs in the absence of a witness claiming to have bought drugs from her.
The State is opposing bail, arguing that Tafirenyika could abscond or interfere with investigations.
Her lawyers rejected the flight-risk argument, saying the State’s own allegations about the scale of her purported property holdings militated against claims that she would flee.
“This is a 22 year old you say has 22 properties worth close to 20 million, she cannot runaway from such an empire.”
