HARARE – Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s ex-wife Marry Mubaiwa cut a pitiful sight on Wednesday as she was taken to court in an ambulance before being transferred to a wheelchair.
Mubaiwa is battling a life-threatening cancer which has hollowed out her right forearm and shrivelled her fingers owing to limited blood supply.
The former model is charged with the attempted murder of Chiwenga while he was critically ill at a hospital in South Africa in 2019.
She is also accused of assaulting her former child minder, Delight Munyoro.
An arrest warrant was issued after she failed to go up the steps to a courtroom which is on the second floor at the Harare Magistrates Court.
The arrest warrant was cancelled by magistrate Feresi Chakanyuka during her appearance on Wednesday. The magistrate agreed with the defence that she was not in wilful default.
Sad scenes however prevailed at the courts where her ambulance was barred from getting into the court premises.
Her lawyer Douglas Coltart said police officers manning the court entrance told them that they had “received instructions not to allow the vehicle inside.”
Proceedings were delayed for an hour while Mubaiwa’s lawyers and family made an alternative arrangements, resulting in her being transferred from a stretcher bed in the ambulance to a wheelchair.
All the time Mubaiwa was groaning in pain.
Asked how she was feeling by reporters, Mubaiwa remained quiet. One of her aides said: “She can’t talk.”
Her assault case was postponed to next month while her arrest warrant was cancelled.
In court the former model was attended to by five people including two paramedics, two personal aides and her mother.
She could barely sit upright while covered in a heavy brown blanket.
During her last appearance, Mubaiwa through her lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa challenged the court’s jurisdiction in the attempted murder case. The lawyer said the incident allegedly happened in South Africa and only a court in the neighbouring country can try her.
The magistrate will rule on that application on August 19.
George Manokore prosecuted.
