By A Correspondent- Somewhat faced with the embarrassment of being tagged alongside gold diggers (shona literal translation)- Auxillia Mnangagwa has refuted reports that have linked her and her son Collins to the gold baroness, Henrietta Rushwaya.

Rushwaya was arrested on Monday last week at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport while attempting to smuggle 6kgs of gold to Dubai.

During Rushwaya’s arrest, one of the officers reportedly implicated Mnangagwa and her son Collins in the gold-smuggling syndicate.

In a statement, the First Lady said she does not engage in gold smuggling and she also challenged police to issue a statement regarding her alleged links with Rushwaya. The statement read in part:

I have no dealings nor involvement with Miss Henrietta Rushwaya of any illegal kind.

I am challenging the Police through their relevant office to issue a statement

I am a strong advocate for transparency and honesty and any continued silence by the police can be misconstrued as a cover-up.

If there is any incriminating evidence against me I challenge the police to present it to the nation without fear or favour. If there be none I also challenge the police to say so.

… It pains me that my son who is hardworking and an obedient son is being attacked for no reason other than being a member of the first family.

He is a hard-working person and strives to improve himself day by day. As a mother, I am proud of his work ethic and encourage him not to be affected by malicious rumours.-statemedia