Mary Mubaiwa's attempted murder case faces a full restart after seven years on remand. The problem is a change of magistrate in Harare. Feresi Chakanyuka, who had led the hearings, has been promoted to the High Court. Mubaiwa is the former wife of Zimbabwe's Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.
And the case had made quite a bit of progress. Chiwenga was due to give evidence after John Mangwiro, his former personal doctor, finished his testimony. Mangwiro had also served as deputy health minister.
Mubaiwa's lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa, wants the charges dropped. Her argument is that repeated delays by the State have kept her client in court for years with no final result. She has asked for an end to further remand.
Prosecutor Lancelot Mutsokoti has a different plan. His team aims to find the witnesses again and issue fresh court summons. Regional magistrate Musaiona Shotgame has put off a ruling on the defense request.
A key part of the case deals with claims from a hospital in South Africa. Mangwiro told the court that he heard Chiwenga scream after Mubaiwa allegedly pulled an IV tube from his chest. Hospital staff then stepped in, he said, before the situation got worse.
The doctor also claimed Mubaiwa had great influence over care decisions at the hospital. According to his account, staff had little power to challenge her actions.
But Mtetwa challenged his version of events. She raised doubts about why hospital records did not mention the alleged incident. The defense also questioned the lack of forensic test results for blood said to have been on Chiwenga's T-shirt.
There was a more direct dispute as well. Mtetwa accused Mangwiro of making up evidence, an allegation he rejected.
Meanwhile, Mubaiwa has had an arm and a leg amputated during the years her case has been in court. Her bid to end remand remains unresolved, and Shotgame's decision could affect whether prosecutors get another chance to pursue the charges.
And the case had made quite a bit of progress. Chiwenga was due to give evidence after John Mangwiro, his former personal doctor, finished his testimony. Mangwiro had also served as deputy health minister.
Mubaiwa's lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa, wants the charges dropped. Her argument is that repeated delays by the State have kept her client in court for years with no final result. She has asked for an end to further remand.
Prosecutor Lancelot Mutsokoti has a different plan. His team aims to find the witnesses again and issue fresh court summons. Regional magistrate Musaiona Shotgame has put off a ruling on the defense request.
A key part of the case deals with claims from a hospital in South Africa. Mangwiro told the court that he heard Chiwenga scream after Mubaiwa allegedly pulled an IV tube from his chest. Hospital staff then stepped in, he said, before the situation got worse.
The doctor also claimed Mubaiwa had great influence over care decisions at the hospital. According to his account, staff had little power to challenge her actions.
But Mtetwa challenged his version of events. She raised doubts about why hospital records did not mention the alleged incident. The defense also questioned the lack of forensic test results for blood said to have been on Chiwenga's T-shirt.
There was a more direct dispute as well. Mtetwa accused Mangwiro of making up evidence, an allegation he rejected.
Meanwhile, Mubaiwa has had an arm and a leg amputated during the years her case has been in court. Her bid to end remand remains unresolved, and Shotgame's decision could affect whether prosecutors get another chance to pursue the charges.
