By A Correspondent | HARARE — 26 August 2026: Lawyers representing Kelsea Tafirenyika have formally apologised to First Lady Auxillia … Continue reading "Tafirenyika Lawyers Apologise to First Lady, Deny Dragging Her Into Case"
By A Correspondent | HARARE — 26 August 2026: Lawyers representing Kelsea Tafirenyika have formally apologised to First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa over the escalating controversy surrounding their client’s criminal case, while insisting that neither Tafirenyika nor her legal team intended to scandalise or disrespect the First Family.
In a letter dated 26 August 2026, Rubaya & Chatambudza Legal Practitioners said their client expressed “profound regret” over the direction taken by the public discourse surrounding the matter.
The lawyers said Tafirenyika wished to make it clear that she never intended to “denigrate or show any measure of disrespect” towards the First Lady, President Emmerson Mnangagwa or any member of the First Family.
But the lawyers simultaneously maintained Tafirenyika’s innocence of the allegations against her.
“Much as our client vehemently denies the allegations levelled against her,” the lawyers wrote, she wished to place on record that she had “at no stage dragged your name, Amai, into this debacle.”
They instead blamed what they described as “opportunists, detractors and adversaries of the First Family” for exploiting the proceedings and manufacturing an association between Tafirenyika and the First Lady.
The lawyers said their client was “not a party to that scandalous enterprise”, adding that she was apologising for what had befallen the First Family’s name as a consequence of her stance in defending herself against the criminal charges she is currently facing.
Lawyers defend their conduct
The legal practitioners also defended their own conduct, saying they had simply followed their client’s instructions and acted within their professional obligations.
They said they had presented Tafirenyika’s defence to the investigating officer, describing it as the same defence she had given during her warned-and-cautioned statement, before the State decided to charge her with money laundering.
“We are officers of the court,” the lawyers stated, insisting that they had no intention of scandalising the First Lady or the First Family.
The letter was signed by Admire Rubaya and Everson Chatambudza of Rubaya & Chatambudza Legal Practitioners.
Call for amicable resolution
Tafirenyika’s lawyers said their client now wants an amicable resolution to the dispute and an end to what they called “unwarranted speculation” surrounding the proceedings.
They said she remained open to engaging directly with the First Lady on any matters that may have caused concern and was prepared to take whatever steps were necessary to achieve an amicable resolution.
“She is very sorry that this issue has escalated to such great heights,” the lawyers said.
The letter therefore combines a clear apology for the escalation and its impact on the First Family with a continued denial of the substantive allegations against Tafirenyika.
The development comes as the criminal proceedings involving Tafirenyika continue, with her lawyers maintaining that their role has been to defend her against the charges while seeking to prevent the dispute from escalating further into a confrontation with the First Family.
