HARARE – Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s embattled ex-wife Marry Mubaiwa’s trial on charges of money laundering is set to kick off October 24 this year.
The trial date was set by Harare magistrate Stanford Mambanje who also dismissed Mubaiwa’s application challenging further placement on remand on the matter.
In his ruling, Mambanje said his court has been convinced by the State that investigations into the matter were almost complete.
“From the submissions made, it is clear that investigations are on course and there is no justification on removing her from remand especially when the investigations are almost complete,” he said.
Prosecutors last week told the court that they were only left with the task of obtaining a certain password from South African banks which have allegedly been used in the money laundering offence.
The magistrate also said there should be no cause for the ailing former model to complain because she is out of custody.
Through her lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa, Mubaiwa has complained over being unnecessarily kept on remand over the alleged offence for a continuous 32 months now.
She was unhappy she has to continuously report to police as part of her bail conditions yet it was apparent the State was not yet ready with her trial.
Mubaiwa has also been frequenting the courts in a matter in which she is accused of attempted murder on her then husband who was fighting for his life in a South African hospital.
In a dramatic fall from Grace, Mubaiwa in 2019 suddenly found herself assailed by a slew of charges which involved money laundering, fraud and attempted murder.
Her misfortune was widely believed to have been stirred by her then husband with whom they had just had a messy fall-out.
Mubaiwa is also waiting for a ruling on her application for discharge at the close of the State’s case in another trial in which she is being accused of assaulting her former maid, Delight Munyoro.
Her troubles have not just ended within the courts as she is also battling a chronic health condition that continues to tear flesh on her right forearm.