Marry Mubaiwa, the former wife of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, has been removed from remand on a charge of attempting to murder him, halting a trial that had run for almost seven years. The ruling is not an acquittal: the State can still bring the case back by summons, The Herald, NewZimbabwe and ZimLive reported.

Harare Regional Magistrate Musaiona Shortgame removed her from remand at the Harare Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, The Herald, NewZimbabwe, ZimLive and Pindula News reported.

Why the case ended

The ruling came after the State asked for the trial to be postponed to 25 November. According to The Herald, prosecutors wanted more time to engage witnesses; Pindula News reported the delay was sought to trace witnesses and reissue summonses.

The magistrate refused. In his ruling, Mr Shortgame said Mubaiwa had suffered mental, physical and financial prejudice during a trial that was now in its seventh year, The Herald reported.

Pindula News reported that prosecutor Lancelot Mutsokoti had earlier told the court the State was locating witnesses so the trial could resume before a new magistrate. Mubaiwa had applied to be removed from remand, accusing the State of repeatedly delaying the case.

What she was accused of

The State alleged that in July 2019, while Chiwenga was being treated in a hospital in Pretoria, South Africa, Mubaiwa tried to kill him by interfering with his life support. She denied the charge. The Maravi Post reported that she said the case was politically motivated and linked to the couple's divorce.

Last week the court ruled that the trial would have to start afresh after the presiding magistrate, Feresi Chakanyuka, was appointed to the High Court, according to Pindula News. By then the case had reached an advanced stage.

The court had heard evidence from Chiwenga's personal doctor, former deputy health minister John Mangwiro. Pindula reported he told the court he heard the Vice President in pain after Mubaiwa allegedly pulled out an intravenous tube, and that medical staff came in quickly and no serious harm was done. Defence lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa challenged his account, asking why the alleged incident was not in hospital notes and why forensic results had never been produced. She argued the allegations came after the marriage broke down. Mangwiro denied fabricating evidence.

Outside court

Mubaiwa thanked her lawyer. iHarare, citing ZimLive, quoted her as saying: "We won. Ms B has done a lot of work. She's done very well. It's been unfair, but today we got justice."

Background

Mubaiwa was arrested in December 2019. Over the years since, she has faced several cases. The Maravi Post and iHarare reported that she was convicted of marriage forgery in April 2022 and acquitted of assaulting her domestic worker in October 2022. During the proceedings she has had her right arm and left leg amputated and now uses a wheelchair, the outlets reported.

Tuesday's ruling halts, for now, the most serious case she faced. According to iHarare, she still faces other charges, including money laundering and exchange control violations. Those matters have not been decided, and she is presumed innocent of them.

*Sources: The Herald, NewZimbabwe, ZimLive, ZimEye, Nehanda Radio, The Zimbabwe Times, Pindula News, iHarare and The Maravi Post.*

Sources: The Herald, 27 Oct 2026 (removed from remand): https://www.heraldonline.co.zw/marry-mubaiwa-removed-from-remand-on-attemped-murder-charges/ · NewZimbabwe, 27 Oct 2026: https://www.newzimbabwe.com/vp-chiwengas-ex-wife-mubaiwa-removed-from-remand-after-seven-years-on-attempted-murder-trial/ · ZimLive, 27 Oct 2026: https://www.zimlive.com/mubaiwa-trial-collapses-after-magistrate-refuses-postponement/ · NewZimbabwe, 28 Oct 2026 (interview): https://www.newzimbabwe.com/it-was-painful-chiwengas-ex-wife-marry-mubaiwa-in-explosive-tell-all-about-couples-relationship-claims-they-abused-drugs/ · ZimEye, 28 Oct 2026: https://www.zimeye.net/2026/10/28/marry-mubaiwa-speaks-i-never-attempted-to-kill-constantino-chiwenga/ · Nehanda Radio, 29 Oct 2026: https://nehandaradio.com/2026/10/29/the-convenient-ex-wife-how-marry-mubaiwas-claims-became-ammunition-in-zanu-pfs-succession-battle/ · The Zimbabwe Times, 29 Oct 2026: https://thezimbabwetimes.co.zw/mubaiwa-accuses-chiwenga-of-years-long-pethidine-use-in-interview/ · The Herald (Prosper Dembedza), 27 Oct 2026: https://www.heraldonline.co.zw/mary-mubaiwa-freed-on-attempted-murder-charges/ · Pindula News, 27 Oct 2026: https://news.pindula.co.zw/2026/10/27/marry-mubaiwa-murder-case-collapses-after-seven-years-on-remand/ · iHarare (Timothy Ndoro), 27 Oct 2026: https://iharare.com/marry-mubaiwa-walks-free-as-attempted-murder-trial-against-vp-chiwenga-collapses/ · The Maravi Post (Lovemore Lubinda), 27 Oct 2026: https://www.maravipost.com/harare-court-acquits-marry-mubaiwa-on-veep-chiwangas-attempted-murder-charges/ · theinsight263, 27 Oct 2026: https://theinsight263.com/mary-mubaiwa-acquitted-of-attempted-murder-charges/

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