Mnangagwa's Daughter-in-Law Accuses Police of 'Scandalizing' First Family in Drug Case

Kelsea Tafirenyika, President Emmerson Mnangagwa's daughter-in-law, has accused the police of sensationalizing her drug and forgery case, alleging that investigators inflated figures and falsely linked her to a US$20 million property empire in an effort to tarnish the First Family's reputation.

During her bail hearing, Tafirenyika, represented by her legal team, challenged the police to provide evidence of her ownership of 22 Harare properties allegedly acquired through drug dealing. Her lawyers argued that the investigating officer had admitted to not yet obtaining official confirmation linking Tafirenyika to these properties. They accused the police of sourcing property lists from social media and using inflated figures to gain "internet traction" while damaging the First Family's image.

Tafirenyika informed investigators that she does not own the properties attributed to her. She stated that any properties registered in her name were matrimonial assets jointly acquired with her husband, Collins Mnangagwa. Her defense team contends that the police ignored this explanation and proceeded to court prematurely without thorough investigation. The defense also questioned claims of Tafirenyika owning properties in Dubai, noting the investigating officer's admission that diplomatic channels had not yet been used to verify this allegation.

In a separate communication to President Mnangagwa and the First Lady, Tafirenyika offered an apology for the controversy surrounding her legal battle. Her lawyers conveyed that their client vehemently denies the allegations and has never sought to involve the First Family. They asserted that any association 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."

Furthermore, Tafirenyika's legal team accused the police of "abusing the criminal justice system" through a tactic they described as "drip justice." This involves arresting Tafirenyika on new allegations each time she secures bail, a strategy the defense argues could have been consolidated into a single charge initially. Tafirenyika also denies possessing the drugs allegedly recovered from her possession.

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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.