ZIM Morning Post was right when it expressed skepticism over allegations being levelled against Marry Mubaiwa, the embattled wife of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.
There is no effort on our part to pre-empt court processes here, but we mentioned soon after Mubaiwa-Chiwenga’s arrest that the raft of accusations against the former model could only be contained in a charge sheet in which a “super Marry” was involved.
We are not absolving Mubaiwa-Chiwenga of possible wrongdoing, neither is it clear yet that the allegations being levelled against her can be sustained in judicial processes that are devoid of political interferences.
We realise that the case is sub judice but still think this is fair comment and pray for judicial indulgence.
In fact, we strongly believe that the case against Mubaiwa-Chiwenga is purely domestic, with bodies such as the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) being roped in to prop up the anxieties and sensibilities of those in the echelons of power.
Such suspicions are borne out of the speed with which the accused was arrested and arraigned before the courts, with Justice Pisirai Kwenda showing disgust at the lack of prior investigations around the Mubaiwa-Chiwenga case – with the State apparently arresting in order to investigate.
Justice Kwenda also noted that such spare of the moment arrests only authenticated the catch-and -release mantra that currently pervades opinion within the public domain.
Accordingly, we repeat our observation that State institutions should refrain from being dragged into personal fights by those masquerading in the corridors of power.
The ruling on Monday by Justice Kwenda granting Mubaiwa-Chiwenga bail – in which he made several negative observations against the State – can only be a sad dent on the country’s justice delivery system.
On several occasions, many “criminals” have been made to needlessly languish in remand prison, only for their cases to be thrown out, leaving the State with egg on its face.
The wheels of justice took a wrong turn as submitted by Justice Kwenda, who lambasted the State for not exhausting investigations before making arrests.