HARARE – The attempted murder trial of Marry Mubaiwa, the former wife of Zimbabwe’s Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, collapsed on Tuesday after a magistrate refused to postpone the case any further, ending nearly seven years of proceedings that had left the accused on remand.
Harare Regional Magistrate Musaiona Shortgame rejected the State’s request to adjourn the matter to 25 November so prosecutors could trace witnesses and reissue summons. The magistrate ruled that the prolonged delays had caused Mubaiwa mental, physical and financial prejudice. After seven years in custody, she walked free from a Harare prison following the decision.
Mubaiwa faced charges of attempting to murder Chiwenga by unplugging his life-support machines while he was hospitalised in South Africa in July 2019. She has always denied the allegation. The trial had reached an advanced stage, with testimony already heard from Chiwenga’s personal doctor and former deputy health minister John Mangwiro. The Vice President himself was due to take the stand next.
Defence lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa argued that prosecutors had repeatedly stalled the case, including a 22-month halt caused by Chiwenga’s failure to appear in court. Since her arrest in 2019, Mubaiwa has undergone amputations of an arm and a leg. Outside court she thanked her legal team and declared the outcome a victory.
The ruling does not amount to a verdict on the merits of the evidence. Prosecutors remain free to reissue summons and restart the case before a different magistrate. Separate legal matters involving Mubaiwa continue before the courts.
Source ; Africanews
