Chiwenga's ex-wife trial postponed to 2023

VICE-President Constantino Chiwenga's estranged wife Marry Mubaiwa's application to have her trial for attempted murder postponed to January next year was yesterday granted by Harare magistrate Feresi Chakanyuka.

Mubaiwa is facing a charge of attempting to kill Chiwenga while he was hospitalised in Pretoria, South Africa.

Mubaiwa had through her lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa, sought the postponement of trial to January 20 pending a High Court determination on whether the Harare Magistrates Court has jurisdiction to preside over the matter.

Lawyer Ryan Sitotombe, who was standing in for Mtetwa, told the court that Mubaiwa's preferred lawyer was set to undergo an operation in South Africa so she was unavailable.

"Following your ruling we wish to apply for postponement because her lawyer is due for an operation in SA. She will not be available because of that and after the operation she will not be able to walk on her own without the assistance of crutches," Sitotombe said.

"Therefore, to enable the accused's counsel of choice to represent her we seek postponement to January 17."

Mubaiwa wants a South African court to preside over the case since the alleged incident happened in South Africa.