Zimbabwe Vice President’s Former Wife Freed After Seven-Year Attempted Murder Case Amid Political Power Struggle

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

HARARE, ZIMBABWE (Worthy News) – The former wife of Zimbabwe’s Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, the ex-army commander who helped overthrow longtime ruler Robert Mugabe, was freed from remand Tuesday after nearly seven years of legal proceedings over allegations that she attempted to murder her husband.

Marry Mubaiwa, a former model who has suffered severe health problems, including the amputation of an arm and a leg, celebrated outside a court in the capital, Harare, after a magistrate rejected prosecutors’ request for another postponement.

Regional Magistrate Musaiona Shortgame ruled that Mubaiwa had suffered mental, physical and financial prejudice during the prolonged proceedings, which began in 2019 following the collapse of her marriage to Chiwenga.

Prosecutors had sought to postpone the trial until November 25 to locate witnesses after the original presiding magistrate was promoted to the High Court, requiring proceedings to begin again.

Her lawyer, prominent human rights attorney Beatrice Mtetwa, welcomed the decision but said it came too late to undo years of legal uncertainty. She argued that her client’s constitutional rights had been violated by repeated delays.

YEARS OF LEGAL BATTLES

“For the past 22 months, this case has not gone on because the complainant was not coming to court,” Mtetwa said, referring to Chiwenga.

She also questioned why authorities had not compelled the vice president to appear.

Mubaiwa, visibly emotional after the ruling, praised her lawyer. “We have won. I’m so happy,” she said. “It has been unfair, but today brought justice.”

The attempted murder allegations date to July 2019, when Chiwenga was receiving medical treatment in Pretoria, South Africa, before undergoing further treatment in China.

Prosecutors alleged that Mubaiwa interfered with his medical care, including removing an intravenous tube from his chest, potentially endangering his life. His personal physician testified that the vice president screamed in pain after the alleged incident, prompting medical personnel to intervene.

Mtetwa challenged the account, questioning the absence of supporting hospital records and forensic evidence. She argued that the accusations emerged from the couple’s deteriorating relationship, an allegation disputed by the physician.

SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS

Mubaiwa’s right arm was amputated in 2022 and her left leg in 2024, leaving her dependent on a wheelchair during court appearances.

Tuesday’s decision removed her from remand in the attempted murder case but did not necessarily prevent prosecutors from seeking to revive proceedings. Her lawyer said the defense would respond if the state pursued further legal action.

The case has attracted attention partly because of Chiwenga’s prominent role in Zimbabwe’s political history and his continuing influence within the ruling ZANU-PF party.

As commander of Zimbabwe’s armed forces, Chiwenga played a central role in the November 2017 military intervention that ended Mugabe’s 37-year rule following a succession struggle involving Mugabe’s wife, Grace, and then-Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Mugabe, who had governed Zimbabwe since independence from Britain in 1980, resigned under military and political pressure. He died in Singapore in September 2019 at the age of 95.

POLITICAL POWER STRUGGLE

Mnangagwa subsequently became president and appointed Chiwenga as vice president, establishing a political partnership that has since come under increasing strain.

At ZANU-PF’s annual conference earlier this month, Chiwenga questioned whether the government was repeating the mistakes that led to Mugabe’s removal.

“What led to the emergence of the Second Republic? It emerged from correcting the rot that was prevailing. Are we not repeating the same mistakes?” Chiwenga asked, referring to the political order established after Mugabe’s downfall.

The ruling party subsequently endorsed plans for Mnangagwa, 84, to remain in power until 2030, while postponing its next elective congress until 2029, intensifying disagreements over who will eventually succeed him.

Chiwenga, widely regarded as a potential successor, remains influential because of his military background and political connections, although Mnangagwa’s allies have strengthened their positions within

QUESTIONING RULE OF LAW

There was no established evidence linking Tuesday’s court ruling involving Chiwenga’s former wife to the political struggle surrounding the vice president.

However, Mubaiwa’s prolonged prosecution has raised questions about judicial delays, equality before the law and the treatment of defendants in politically sensitive cases.

For Mubaiwa, the immediate outcome was more personal: after nearly seven years of court appearances, serious illness and uncertainty, she left the Harare court celebrating a legal victory, even as the possibility of renewed proceedings remained.