By Advent Shoko | ZiGoats
Marry Mubaiwa, the estranged wife of Vice President Constantino Guvheya Nyikadzino Chiwenga, has been removed from remand in the long-running attempted murder case in which she is accused of trying to kill him while he was receiving treatment in South Africa.
The development follows nearly seven years of proceedings, repeated postponements and a fresh setback after the magistrate who had been hearing the case, Feresi Chakanyuka, was promoted to the High Court bench.
Regional Magistrate Musaiona Shortgame declined to grant the State another postponement after prosecutors said they needed more time to locate witnesses and issue fresh summonses.
Mubaiwa’s lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa, opposed further delays, arguing that her client had spent years on remand without the trial being concluded.
The court’s decision brings the immediate proceedings to a halt, but it does not amount to a judgment declaring Mubaiwa innocent of the allegations. The attempted murder charge has not been determined through a completed trial, and the possibility of further legal proceedings depends on the applicable procedures and any subsequent action by the State.
What Is Mubaiwa Accused Of?
The attempted murder case stems from events in July 2019, when Chiwenga was critically ill and receiving medical treatment in South Africa.
Prosecutors allege that Mubaiwa interfered with his life-support equipment while he was hospitalised, putting his life at risk. The State has also alleged that she initially delayed taking him to hospital, opting to keep him at a hotel before his security personnel intervened.
During earlier proceedings, former Deputy Health Minister John Mangwiro, who was involved in Chiwenga’s medical care, gave evidence about the alleged incident.
Mangwiro told the court that he heard Chiwenga screaming after Mubaiwa allegedly pulled out an intravenous tube inserted into his chest. He said medical personnel intervened.
In earlier testimony, Mangwiro also described difficulties surrounding Chiwenga’s care during the period.
“Each time we took the complainant out of the country for medication, he would come back home well,” he told the court, adding that Chiwenga’s health would deteriorate after returning home.
Mubaiwa has maintained her innocence, while her defence has challenged the prosecution’s case.
Why Has the Trial Taken So Long?
Mubaiwa was arrested in December 2019, but the attempted murder trial only began in February 2023.
The case had progressed considerably under magistrate Chakanyuka, with Chiwenga expected to testify after Mangwiro completed his evidence.
However, Chakanyuka’s elevation to the High Court meant the trial could not simply continue under her supervision. The State was required to prepare for proceedings before a new magistrate, including locating witnesses and arranging fresh summonses.
Prosecutors sought more time to organise the case. Mtetwa opposed the request, arguing that the State had already received sufficient time to prepare.
The defence also pointed to previous postponements and the length of time Mubaiwa had remained on remand.
The latest decision therefore follows a prolonged legal battle in which the prosecution has yet to bring the attempted murder case to a final conclusion.
A Marriage Breakdown Followed by Multiple Cases
The criminal proceedings emerged against the background of the bitter breakdown of Mubaiwa’s relationship with Chiwenga.
The relationship between the former model, who was also married to former Warriors star Shingirai Kawondera, and Chiwenga went south around 2019, when she was accused of plotting to kill the former military boss. Their relationship became the subject of intense public attention after Chiwenga fell seriously ill that year and Mubaiwa was subsequently arrested.
The attempted murder charge was not the only case she faced.
In December 2019, Mubaiwa also appeared in court over allegations involving the externalisation of foreign currency, money laundering and fraud.
The financial charges included allegations that funds were transferred abroad unlawfully and that transactions were used to conceal the source or destination of money. The fraud allegation concerned claims that she attempted to formalise her marriage to Chiwenga without his consent.
Mubaiwa also faced an assault charge arising from an alleged confrontation with a domestic worker. She was acquitted of that charge after the court found merit in the defence application for discharge at the close of the State’s case.
Mubaiwa’s Health Has Added To The Human Cost
The prolonged legal battle has unfolded alongside serious health problems.
Mubaiwa suffered injuries in the June 2018 grenade explosion at White City Stadium in Bulawayo, where President Emmerson Mnangagwa was addressing supporters. She subsequently received medical treatment, but could not travel to preferred South African medical institutions after courts withheld her passport as part of bail conditions.
She later underwent amputations of an arm and a leg.
Her medical difficulties have added another dimension to a case that has continued for years, with the defence repeatedly challenging the length of the proceedings.
Chiwenga, meanwhile, received treatment in China during his recovery from the serious illness that led to his hospitalisation in 2019.
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