Marry Mubaiwa has beaten the charge that she tried to kill Zimbabwe's Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, her former husband. A Harare court cleared her after the case spent seven years in the legal system, with the judge finding that the long delays had harmed her.
Regional magistrate Musaiona Shortgame ruled in her favor after prosecutors sought yet another break in the trial. The State wanted more time to contact witnesses, but the court rejected its request to push the hearing into November.
The case stemmed from claims that Mubaiwa tried to take Chiwenga's life while he was receiving medical care in Pretoria, South Africa, in 2019. Police took her into custody that December, and a series of court cases followed.
And the personal toll has been grim. Mubaiwa, who uses a wheelchair, has had her right arm and left leg amputated. Her marriage ended, she lost contact with her kids, and her finances and assets also took a hit during the long dispute.
Shortgame found that the years of legal delays had caused her harm in several ways. Her health, state of mind, and financial position all formed part of the court's decision to bring the case to a close.
Outside the courthouse, Mubaiwa gave lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa much of the credit. She expressed relief at the result, praised the effort Mtetwa had put into her defense, and said the legal process had treated her unfairly.
But her court troubles aren't fully over. She still has cases linked to alleged money laundering and breaches of foreign currency rules. Earlier proceedings also saw her convicted over forged marriage papers, while a separate accusation involving an alleged attack on a domestic worker ended in her favor.
For Mubaiwa, the ruling marks a major legal win after years of personal loss. And while the murder attempt allegation is off the table, the rest of her legal battles remain unresolved.
Regional magistrate Musaiona Shortgame ruled in her favor after prosecutors sought yet another break in the trial. The State wanted more time to contact witnesses, but the court rejected its request to push the hearing into November.
The case stemmed from claims that Mubaiwa tried to take Chiwenga's life while he was receiving medical care in Pretoria, South Africa, in 2019. Police took her into custody that December, and a series of court cases followed.
And the personal toll has been grim. Mubaiwa, who uses a wheelchair, has had her right arm and left leg amputated. Her marriage ended, she lost contact with her kids, and her finances and assets also took a hit during the long dispute.
Shortgame found that the years of legal delays had caused her harm in several ways. Her health, state of mind, and financial position all formed part of the court's decision to bring the case to a close.
Outside the courthouse, Mubaiwa gave lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa much of the credit. She expressed relief at the result, praised the effort Mtetwa had put into her defense, and said the legal process had treated her unfairly.
But her court troubles aren't fully over. She still has cases linked to alleged money laundering and breaches of foreign currency rules. Earlier proceedings also saw her convicted over forged marriage papers, while a separate accusation involving an alleged attack on a domestic worker ended in her favor.
For Mubaiwa, the ruling marks a major legal win after years of personal loss. And while the murder attempt allegation is off the table, the rest of her legal battles remain unresolved.
