Kelsea Tadiwa Tafirenyika has apologised to First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa over the controversy surrounding her criminal case, while insisting that others manufactured claims linking the First Lady to the dispute. The post Kelsea apologises to First Lady as lawyers seek ‘amicable resolution’ to family dispute appeared first on Nehanda Radio .
Kelsea Tadiwa Tafirenyika, the 22-year-old second wife of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s son Collins Mnangagwa, has apologised to First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa and the First Family, while denying that she played any role in allegations that have drawn the family into a public dispute.
In a letter dated August 26, 2026, Kelsea’s lawyers, Admire Rubaya and Everson Chatambudza, said their client regretted the escalation of events surrounding her ongoing criminal case and wanted an amicable resolution to the dispute.
The lawyers said Kelsea never intended to disrespect or scandalise the First Lady, the President or any member of the First Family.
“We wish to convey, without reservation, our client’s profound regret that the public discourse has taken a turn that could be perceived as disrespectful to yourself and the First Family,” the lawyers wrote.
“It was never her intention, nor could it ever be to denigrate or show any measure of disrespect towards yourself, His Excellency the President, or any member of the First Family.”
The letter comes amid a storm of allegations surrounding Kelsea’s arrest and her family, including claims circulating publicly that the First Lady had confronted Kelsea’s mother, Amina Jessub Arab, and personally assaulted her over allegations involving Collins and assets reportedly worth more than US$10 million.
Pictures of Amina Jassinta Jessub Arab after the alleged beating (Pictures via X – Hopewell Chin’ono)
The lawyers, however, said their client had not dragged the First Lady into the dispute and accused unnamed individuals of exploiting the circumstances to create divisions within the First Family.
“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,” they said.
“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.”
Kelsea is currently facing charges of drug possession and money laundering following her arrest on August 4. She remains in custody in Harare while seeking bail.
First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa (Picture via X – Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services)
Her mother, sister and aunt are also being held without bail at Mlondolozi Prison near Bulawayo in connection with separate drug-related charges.
The criminal proceedings have generated considerable public discussion, with social media commentators raising questions about the involvement of the First Lady in the matter. The lawyers’ letter does not substantiate those claims and instead seeks to distance both Kelsea and her legal team from what they describe as a manufactured narrative.
Kelsea’s lawyers also addressed the defence she has presented in the criminal proceedings, saying they had merely advanced instructions given to them by their client.
“For our part, as legal practitioners, we have done no more and no less than execute our client’s instructions to the best of our abilities, as is our duty and our professional oath,” the lawyers said.
They added that they had presented to the investigating officer the same defence Kelsea had given in her warned and cautioned statement before she was charged with money laundering.
Kelsea Tadiwa Tafirenyika, the second wife of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s twin son, Collins (Picture via Social Media)
The dispute has also centred on properties allegedly linked to Kelsea. Her reported position has been that Collins bought the properties for her, while police allege that she acquired them through proceeds from a drug-dealing enterprise.
The lawyers added: “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 lawyers wrote.
Kelsea has now indicated that she wants the dispute resolved through dialogue.
“Our client wishes to convey that she remains open to engaging with you on any matters that may have caused concern,” the lawyers said.
“She is fully committed to taking whatever steps are necessary to achieve an amicable resolution.”
The lawyers said Kelsea had “reflected deeply on the events that have unfolded” and hoped that direct engagement would bring the matter to an end.
“She is very sorry that this issue has escalated to such great heights,” they said.
The lawyers also personally sought to reassure the First Lady that they had not intended to attack or scandalise her.
“We respect the person of the First Lady deeply, and we wish to assure you that it has never been our intention, neither now nor at any other time, to scandalize you or the First Family,” they wrote.
“We are officers of the court, and we conduct ourselves as such. We are creatures of instructions who are obliged at law to execute our client’s instructions, nothing more, nothing less.”
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