A Harare magistrate has freed Marry Mubaiwa, the former wife of Zimbabwe's Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, ending for now an attempted murder case that has hung over her for nearly seven years.

Regional Magistrate Musaiona Shortgame on Tuesday removed Mubaiwa from remand after rejecting the prosecution's request to postpone the trial to 25 November so it could engage more witnesses, according to Zimbabwean outlet Nehanda Radio and the BBC.

Prejudice from a drawn-out trial

In his ruling, the magistrate noted that the matter had been before the courts for almost seven years and said the prolonged proceedings had caused Mubaiwa "mental, physical and financial prejudice", the state-owned Herald reported.

Removal from remand is not necessarily an acquittal on the merits, and Nehanda Radio noted that the State could still choose to proceed against her by summons in future. Her lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa, described the ruling as a victory that had come too late and said her client's rights had been violated by the long delay. She added that the defence would respond if prosecutors sought a fresh trial.

Outside court, a visibly relieved Mubaiwa praised her legal team. "It's been unfair, but today we got justice," she said, according to Nehanda Radio.

The allegation

Mubaiwa was arrested in December 2019 and charged with attempting to kill Chiwenga while he was receiving treatment at a hospital in Pretoria, South Africa. Prosecutors alleged that she disconnected his life-support equipment and tried to interfere with his care. Chiwenga later spent four months in China for treatment.

She has always denied the charge, maintaining that the case was politically motivated and tied to the couple's bitter divorce. At the time of her arrest she also faced allegations of money laundering and perjury linked to the marriage.

Health battles

The case has dragged on as Mubaiwa's health deteriorated sharply. Her right arm was amputated in September 2022 after complications from acute lymphoedema, and her left leg was amputated in 2024, Nehanda Radio reported.

Chiwenga, a retired army general, played a central role in the 2017 military intervention that ended Robert Mugabe's 37-year rule and has served as vice-president under Emmerson Mnangagwa since then.

The ruling is likely to be closely watched in Zimbabwe, where the case has long been seen as entangled with the country's elite politics. It remains unclear whether prosecutors will seek to revive the charges.

Photos: BBC screengrab via The Star. Thumbnail design: HAMASTA MEDIA.