Marry Mubaiwa, the ex-wife of Zimbabwean Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, has been released from remand after a 7-year legal battle. Mubaiwa faced an attempted murder charge for allegedly unplugging her ex-husband's life support in 2019. Her case stalled for seven years, during which her failing health led to two limb amputations.
Mubaiwa and Chiwenga married under customary law in 2011 and were once one of Zimbabwe's most prominent power couples, raising three children together. However, by 2019, their marriage had fractured, and things took a dark turn. In July 2019, Chiwenga was airlifted to a hospital in Pretoria, South Africa, suffering from a severe illness. It was in this hospital room that the alleged crime occurred.
According to Chiwenga's personal doctor, John Mangwiro, Mubaiwa entered the room and deliberately pulled an intravenous tube connected to her husband's chest. Mubaiwa denied the accusations, and her defence team argued that the attempted murder charge was fabricated. They pointed to the lack of supporting hospital records and inconsistencies in witness statements.
The case repeatedly stalled, with prosecutors requesting more time to gather witnesses. The proceedings were paralysed for nearly 22 months because Chiwenga, the primary complainant, failed to show up to court. The judicial process faced a massive reset when the presiding magistrate was elevated to the High Court, forcing the trial back to square one.
Mubaiwa's health declined catastrophically during the trial. She was diagnosed with a severe lymphatic condition and despite her pleas to seek specialised medical treatment outside Zimbabwe, she was denied. Her right arm was amputated in September 2022, and her left leg in June 2024. Despite these physical traumas, the justice system offered no leniency, and Mubaiwa was repeatedly compelled to attend her remand hearings.
Finally, on October 27, 2026, Regional Magistrate Musaiona Shotgame ordered Mubaiwa's removal from remand, citing the immense mental, physical, and financial prejudice she had suffered. The State had asked for yet another postponement, but the magistrate refused. Mubaiwa declared, “Ah tahwina isu”—we have won, outside the courthouse, flanked by her advocate Beatrice Mtetwa.
Being removed from remand is not the same as a formal acquittal, but it means the State has failed to prosecute her in a reasonable timeframe, freeing her from bail conditions and perpetual court appearances. While the State theoretically has the power to revive the charges, doing so after a seven-year delay and massive public scrutiny would be incredibly difficult. For now, Mubaiwa is finally free to go home after a broken marriage, lost limbs, and seven years in legal purgatory.
Key points
- Marry Mubaiwa's 7-year legal battle has ended with her release from remand.
- Mubaiwa's health declined catastrophically during the trial, resulting in the amputation of her right arm and left leg.
- The State's failure to prosecute Mubaiwa in a reasonable timeframe led to her removal from remand.
