Socialite Kelsea Tafirenyika has accused the police of being used by detractors to sensationalise the matter against her and soil the reputation of the First Family and the President by generating fictitious figures and falsely claiming that she owns 22 properties in the capital.

Tafirenyika is accused of dealing in dangerous drugs and using proceeds from the alleged criminal activities to acquire 22 properties worth millions of dollars. She is also accused of possessing a forged identity card in the name of Getrude Badza bearing her photograph, allegations she denies.

Through her lawyers, Admire Rubaya, Everson Chatambudza, Malvern Mapako and Kangai, Tafirenyika challenged the investigating officer to prove her ownership of the alleged properties, which the police claim were acquired using proceeds from drug dealing.

The lawyers further accused the police of inflating the value of the alleged properties to generate internet traction, saying this was tarnishing the reputation of the First Family.

Tafirenyika challenged police officer Gift Machipisa to explain how she allegedly dealt in drugs while being guarded by security agents, to the extent of amassing such a fortune.

The investigating officer was also challenged to name individuals who allegedly bought drugs from Tafirenyika for more than US$15 million or those who allegedly sold the drugs to her in the first place.

Tafirenyika said she told the investigating officer that she does not own the alleged properties and that those registered in her name were matrimonial acquisitions that she jointly owns with her husband, Collins Mnangagwa.

She accused the police officer of refusing to investigate her defence before rushing to court, which she said showed that he was being used by the First Family’s detractors to advance falsehoods.

Tafirenyika also blamed the police officer for failing to take a step back and verify her defence before taking her to court.

Through her lawyers, she has since written to the First Lady and the President apologising for how the matter has been hijacked and sensationalised on social media by detractors allegedly bent on soiling their reputation.

In the letter, the lawyers said it was never their intention to scandalise the First Family and blamed opportunists for escalating the case.

“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.

The defence said the police had “arrested to investigate” after the investigating officer indicated that he was yet to obtain confirmation from the council or Registrar of Deeds proving that Tafirenyika owns the properties.

The lawyers further argued that the police had “plucked” the list of properties from social media instead of investigating the claims, accusing them of seeking to sensationalise the matter.

They also challenged the investigating officer to prove the claim that Tafirenyika owns properties in Dubai. The officer reportedly said he was yet to engage the relevant diplomatic channels to verify the allegation.

The defence accused the police of “abusing the criminal justice system” and administering “drip justice” by arresting Tafirenyika in installments.

The lawyers argued that there was nothing stopping the police from charging her with all the alleged offences at once, rather than waiting for her release on bail before bringing new charges.

This follows claims by the investigating officer that police discovered the alleged identity card in the name of Getrude Badza during the same raid in which they allegedly recovered drugs from Tafirenyika’s home.

Tafirenyika has denied ever being in possession of the drugs and accused the police of “planting” them in her house to justify her arrest.

She argued that there was no one to corroborate the allegation that she was dealing in drugs, saying police had not produced anyone who claimed to have received drugs from her in exchange for money.

She further argued that US$204 worth of the alleged drugs cannot be used as evidence of drug dealing, particularly in the absence of a witness claiming to have bought the drugs from her.

The State is opposing her admission to bail, citing fears that she could abscond or interfere with investigations.

The defence, however, argued that assuming she owns such an empire, she would have no reason to flee the country and would instead remain to defend her fortune.

“This is a 22 year old you say has 22 properties worth close to 20 million, she cannot runaway from such an empire.”