Mary Mubaiwa, the estranged wife of Zimbabwe’s Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, appeared in court on serious charges including attempting to murder her husband. Mubaiwa is accused of trying to kill General Chiwenga while he was receiving medical treatment in South Africa. The General claims that Mubaiwa pulled an intravenous drip from his arm during his hospital stay in Pretoria.
In addition to the attempted murder accusation, Mubaiwa is facing charges related to illegal financial activities. The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) confirmed her arrest on Saturday for transferring $919,000 to South Africa between October 2018 and May 2019. The money was allegedly sent under false pretenses, with Mubaiwa claiming the funds were for the importation of goods that never existed.
Further complicating the case, Mubaiwa is accused of attempting to forge the couple’s marriage certificate. The pair, married under Zimbabwean customary law since 2011, are currently in the midst of a divorce. They have two children together.
Mubaiwa’s actions have attracted significant public attention, as Zimbabwe continues to battle widespread corruption. Transparency International estimates that the country loses approximately $1 billion annually to corruption.
Vice President Chiwenga, who played a pivotal role in the ousting of former President Robert Mugabe, has been at the center of a high-profile legal battle. The case against Mubaiwa highlights the country’s ongoing struggles with corruption and governance issues.