In brief
Marry Mubaiwa, the former wife of Zimbabwe's vice‑president Constantino Chiwenga, spent seven years in prison while her trial for an alleged attempted murder of the vice‑president was pending. In 2019, Chiwenga accused her of obstructing his medical treatment in South Africa and she was convicted, but a magistrate later ordered her release due to mental, physical, and financial prejudice during the lengthy trial. The decision came after the state requested a month‑long postponement to bring witnesses, a move seen by Mubaiwa’s lawyer as a violation of her rights. Mubaiwa celebrated her release outside the Harare court, calling it a victory for justice and expressing pride in her legal team.
The former wife of Zimbabwe's vice‑president, Marry Mubaiwa, was released from custody after a seven‑year legal battle that began with an attempted murder charge.
In 2019, Constantino Chiwenga—then the vice‑president—alleged that Mubaiwa had obstructed his medical treatment while he was in South Africa. A magistrate later ruled that the lengthy trial had caused her mental, physical and financial harm, ordering her immediate release. The decision followed a request by the state to postpone the trial by a month to bring in additional witnesses.
Mubaiwa’s lawyer described the release as a victory, but noted it came too late, arguing that her client’s rights had been violated by the delay. She celebrated outside Harare’s court, praising her lawyer and claiming justice had been achieved.
The case highlights the intersection of political influence and judicial processes in Zimbabwe, where Chiwenga played a pivotal role in the 2017 coup that removed former President Robert Mugabe.
