Attempted murder suspect sues for custody

The wife of Zimbabwe's Vice President Constantino Chiwenga who faces charges of attempting to murder her husband, has sued over access to their children and home, court papers have revealed. As previously reported in Legalbrief Today, Marry Mubaiwa was arrested last month on allegations of attempted murder, fraud and contravening the country's exchange control laws by transferring about $1m abroad. Prosecutors say she allegedly removed an intravenous line and a catheter from her husband while he was being treated at a Pretoria hospital. A report on the News24 site notes that the businesswoman and former model wants the courts to urgently order the Vice President to hand over their three children who ‘have unlawfully (been) taken away from my custody’. ‘Not only is this an act of unconscionable cruelty, it is also brazenly illegal,’ she said. The High Court in Harare last week granted her US$2 780 bail and ordered her to surrender her diplomatic passport. A trial date has not been set yet, but she is due back in court for a routine pre-trial appearance tomorrow.