In brief
Marry Mubaiwa, ex‑wife of Zimbabwe’s vice president Constantino Chiwenga, has been freed from remand after a protracted seven‑year legal battle. She was charged in 2019 with attempting to murder Chiwenga during his medical treatment in South Africa, a case the state later abandoned. A magistrate released her citing mental, physical and financial prejudice she endured during the trial. Mubaiwa celebrated her freedom outside the courthouse and praised her lawyer’s efforts, while the court’s decision comes amid heightened scrutiny of the vice president’s personal affairs.
Marry Mubaiwa, the former wife of Zimbabwe’s vice‑president Constantino Chiwenga, has been released from remand after a seven‑year wait for a trial that has collapsed.
She was charged in 2019 when Chiwenga accused her of trying to sabotage his medical treatment in South Africa, claiming he was being targeted for murder.
A magistrate ordered her release, citing the mental, physical and financial prejudice she endured during the prolonged proceedings.
The decision followed a request from the state to postpone the trial by one month to bring additional witnesses, a move that tipped the balance of justice.
Her lawyer described the ruling as a belated victory, noting that procedural delays had violated her client’s rights and promising to pursue a retrial if necessary.
Outside the Harare courthouse, Mubaiwa celebrated her freedom, stating that justice had been served and expressing pride in her legal team.
The case is set against the backdrop of Chiwenga’s 2017 role in the overthrow of former President Robert Mugabe, adding to the political intrigue surrounding the vice‑president’s personal affairs.
