A magistrate in Harare ordered the release of Marry Mubaiwa on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, after the collapse of an attempted murder case involving her former husband, Zimbabwean Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga. Mubaiwa had been on remand for seven years following her arrest in 2019.
The case originated from allegations that Mubaiwa tried to impede Gen. Chiwenga’s medical treatment while he was at a hospital in Pretoria, South Africa. Following the alleged incident, Chiwenga traveled to China for four months of further medical care. Mubaiwa was subsequently denied bail.
The decision to free Mubaiwa followed a request from state prosecutors to postpone the trial for an additional month to secure witnesses. According to the state-owned Herald newspaper, the magistrate ruled that Mubaiwa had suffered mental, physical, and financial prejudice due to the length of the trial. Mubaiwa’s lawyer stated outside the court that while the ruling was a victory, it arrived after her client's rights had been violated by the delay.
The case involves high-level political figures, as Gen. Chiwenga played a central role in the 2017 removal of former President Robert Mugabe. The magistrate's acknowledgment of "prejudice" addresses the length of time a defendant can be held on remand. The ruling highlights the impact of prosecutorial delays when witnesses are not ready to testify after several years.
What happens next depends on whether the state seeks a new trial. Mubaiwa’s legal team stated they would address any future motions if the state proceeds. No specific dates for further hearings or deadlines for a state appeal were reported following the Tuesday ruling. Mubaiwa celebrated the release outside the court, saying justice had been achieved.