The two warrants of arrest issued on Monday morning against Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s estranged wife Marry Chiwenga have been cancelled at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts.
A visibly unwell Chiwenga was brought to court in an ambulance on Monday afternoon after her no-show in the morning prompted Magistrate Ngoni Nduna to issue out the two warrants of arrest.
Marry’s lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa told the court in the morning that her client was not well and couldn’t make it to court and asked the court to remand her in absentia.
However, magistrate Ngoni Nduna said an administrative warrant would only have been possible if she was in the hospital.
Chiwenga is facing charges of attempted murder, money laundering, and assaulting a family maid.
Images of Marry seated in a chair and on a drip sparked outrage on social media. Veteran lawyer David Coltart tweeted:
The manner in which Mrs Chiwenga was treated this afternoon- hauled before a magistrate demonstrably ill, on a drip, attended by nurses – is utterly shameful.
This is a shocking travesty of justice. The magistrate should be disciplined – [Law Society of Zimbabwe] speak up, please.
Renowned journalist Violet Gonda also tweeted:
This is happening as we commemorate the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. A visibly unwell Marry Chiwenga was wheeled out of an ambulance into court.
[Joana Mamombe] and co had similar experiences. This is more than systemic abuse of women. It’s dehumanising and degrading.
Meanwhile, Mtetwa told the court that Marry is set to travel outside the country for medical attention and applied that the matter is set for January 28 to enable her time to recover and seek medical attention.