
<p><br>HARARE, Dec 16 (Reuters) &#8211; The wife of Zimbabwean Vice President Constantino Chiwenga was charged with trying to kill her husband when she appeared in court on Monday.</p>



<p>Prosecutors say Marry Mubaiwa tried to unplug Chiwenga&#8217;s life support tubes in a South African hospital in June.</p>



<p>She was initially arrested on Saturday by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) on charges of fraud, money laundering and breaching exchange control rules, and is accused of illegally transferring $900,000 to South Africa.</p>



<p>She denies all the accusations against her and her lawyer said she would seek bail at Zimbabwe&#8217;s High Court. She was refused bail for the initial charges after prosecutors argued she would flee the country or interfere with witnesses.</p>



<p>The charges follow media reports that Mubaiwa and Chiwenga, who returned to Zimbabwe last month after four months in a Chinese hospital where he was later treated for a blocked oesophagus, were set to divorce.</p>



<p>Opposition politicians took to social media to accuse Chiwenga of using his position to influence a divorce settlement. Chiwenga could not be reached for comment.</p>



<p>Critics of ZACC say it is conflicted because its head judge, Loice Matanda-Moyo, is married to Foreign Minister Sibusiso Moyo, a top ally of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and of Chiwenga.</p>



<p>The ZACC denies this and said it will prosecute all corruption cases without fear or favour.</p>



<p>Prosecutors also told the court that Mubaiwa was being investigated for misusing U.S. dollar allowances meant for her husband&#8217;s security details. </p>



<p>(Reporting by MacDonald Dzirutwe; Editing by Emma Rumney and Giles Elgood)</p>


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Wife of Zimbabwean vice president charged with his attempted murder

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<p>South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has again called for the lifting of sanctions against Zimbabwe. This is after United States extended sanctions by one year saying they will only be lifted, if Harare has implemented certain reforms. Joining CNBC Africa’s Karabo Letlhatlha to speak on the sanctions, legitimacy issue, elective congress and the current economic challenges facing Zimbabwe is MDC Leader Nelson Chamisa.</p>


MDC’s Nelson Chamisa speaks out on Zimbabwe sanctions, dialogue and elective congress

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<p>There has been a huge call for Zimbabwe to engage in a national dialogue to resolve the country’s economic crisis. The country’s reserve bank governor recently introduced a new currency known as Real Time Gross Transfer dollars or ‘RTGS dollars’ as a measure to address its currency problem.  For more on the dialogue issue, the newly introduced currency, and role South Africa and SADC should play in resolving Zim crisis; CNBC Africa spoke to Former Zimbabwe Deputy Prime Minister Professor Arthur Mutambara.</p>


Zimbabwe needs bold reforms, productivity not a new currency – Arthur Mutambara

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<p>Public sector workers in Zimbabwe have rejected a second offer to raise their salaries, anti-government protests have seen the death of over 10 people and hundreds of citizens have been detained over public order charges. Social media access has also been cut off during this time. Joining CNBC Africa for more is Professor Anthoni van Nieuwkerk, Political Science Expert.</p>


Anthoni van Nieuwkerk: #Mnangagwa is another version of Mugabe

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<p>Public sector workers in Zimbabwe have rejected a second offer to raise their salaries. Workers&#8217; demands to be paid in US dollars has again been rejected by the government. In the past week anti-government protests have seen the death of over 10 people and hundreds of citizens detained over public order charges. Social media access has also been cut off during this time. The United Nations has called for an end to the security crackdown and internet blackout. Meanwhile President Emmerson Mnangagwa has cancelled his trip to the lavish resort town of Davos after coming under fire due to the dire economy which has been afflicted by a shortage of dollar bills and resulted in fuel and medicine shortages. John Robertson, Independent Economic Consultant in Zimbabwe joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


Top economist on why no one wants to bailout #Zimbabwe

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<p>On Tuesday afternoon Former South African president Kgalema Motlanthe released his commission report about Zimbabwe’s post-election violence. The report suggested that the police and military were the culprits of the chaos that had occurred but Advocate Chadya Tapiwa Diamond believes that the inquiry’s finding was just a waste of tax payer’s money. He joins CNBC Africa to explain why.</p>


Motlanthe Commission report on Zimbabwe’s post-election killings labelled ‘white wash’

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<p>Zimbabwean Politician Temba Mliswa says MDC Alliance’s court petition challenging the 2018 Presidential elections results would not have been allowed under Robert Mugabe’s administration, showing that democracy is now alive in Zimbabwe. The Independent Member of Parliament for Norton Constituency and former Zanu-PF Mashonaland West provincial chairperson joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


MDC Alliance court challenge shows that democracy is now alive in Zimbabwe – Temba Mliswa

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<p>Zimbabwe has yet to settle following its disputed election, the first one Post-Mugabe&#8217;s rule, where President Emmerson Mnangagwa received majority vote. How are the markets responding to the nation-wide unrest? Joining CNBC Africa for more is Neville Mandimika, Africa Strategist, RMB.</p>


Tracking market, investor reaction to Zimbabwe’s disputed election

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<p>Zimbabwe&#8217;s former Finance Minister Tendai Biti has been arrested as he fled to Zambia to seek asylum, his lawyer said. CNBC Africa’s Chris Bishop provides more insight.</p>


Zimbabwe police arrest opposition leader Tendai Biti

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<p>It was a throwback to the bad old days in Harare when riot police broke up an opposition press conference and chased journalists away. There was chaos at an attempted press conference by MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa less than 24 hours after the election results were announced.</p>


Zimbabwe riot police break up MDC Alliance press conference

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<p>Just before midnight the result came that incumbent president Emmerson Mnangagwa had won more than 50 per cent of the vote to stay on in power. It&#8217;s a result that was disputed by the opposition, almost from the moment that it came from the lips of the head of the Zimbabwean electoral commission, Justice Priscilla Chigumba. MDC Spokesperson, Morgan Komichi, jumped on stage to object.</p>


Emmerson Mnangagwa declared winner in #Zimbabwe poll

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<p>Zimbabwe is on edge as it waits to find out who will run the country for the next five years.</p>


#Zimabwevotes: MDC Alliance condemns military after violent clashes leave 3 dead

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<p>Former Zimbabwean President and founding member of Zanu Pf Robert Mugabe revealed to the media his preferred candidate of the historic elections, first without his name on the ballot paper.</p>


Mugabe reveals his preferred candidate

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<p>Zimbabweans head to the polls today, with the two main contenders, ZANU Pf’s Emmerson Mangagwa and MDC’s Nelson Chamisa each confident of a victory. These will be the first elections with-ought Robert Mugabe. To find out the views of Zimbabweans living in diaspora CNBC Africa went out into the streets of Johannesburg.</p>


Zimbabweans in SA speak out on first post-Mugabe election

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<p><em>Zimbabweans in the diaspora are heeding the call by President Mnangagwa to come back home to invest and rebuild the economy. A consortium made up of Zimbabwe&#8217;s Diaspora Infrastructure Development Group (DIDG) and South Africa&#8217;s state-owned rail transport group Transnet delivered the first batch of rolling stock equipment to National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ), as to strengthen trade and the recapitalisation of the country’s railway programme. However there has been concern that the equipment delivered is second hand and out-dated. CNBC Africa&#8217;s Daniel Sango caught up with DIDG Chairman Donovan Chimhandamba to discuss more details on the $400 million US dollars recapitalisation deal.</em></p>
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<p><em> </em></p>


Zimbabwe diaspora, Transnet win $400mn NRZ tender

<p>The army chief who led the bloodless coup that ended Robert Mugabe’s 37-year rule was installed as Zimbabwe’s vice president on Thursday, becoming the most senior of a clutch of military figures to enter government.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-295452 size-full" src="http://cnbc.africa/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Zim_Constantino-Chiwenga_GettyImages.png" alt="" width="850" height="566" /></p>
<p>Retired general Constantino Chiwenga’s appearance on state television on Nov. 15 preceded armed soldiers taking to the streets, paving the way for Emmerson Mnangagwa to become president hours later.</p>
<p>Mnangagwa, a former chief lieutenant to Mugabe who has promised to push through economic and political reforms, on Thursday also granted his 93-year-old predecessor full diplomatic status and a staff of 23 under a pension settlement.</p>
<p>The president’s governing ZANU-PF party this month moved to draw a line under the era of Mugabe, who during his decades in power became feared as a despot and presided over economic collapse, by formally expelling the ex-president’s wife Grace and her allies from the organization.</p>
<p>But Mnangagwa, who himself stands accused of participating in repression, has steered clear of acts of retribution against the former president.</p>
<p>Mugabe has been living at his private home in the plush Borrowdale suburb, and the pension entitles him to “payment of a lump sum which is equal or equivalent to the value of the private residence”, according to the official government gazette.</p>
<p>In a statement in the gazette, Mnangagwa said ex-presidents who have served at least one full term &#8211; a category that includes only Mugabe &#8211; were also entitled to six security personnel and a fully furnished office.</p>
<p>Mnangagwa is under pressure from would-be foreign investors, opposition parties and ordinary Zimbabweans to implement reforms.</p>
<p>But he is also looking to maintain a unified ZANU-PF as the dominant political force and keep relations with its powerful military smooth in the run-up to national elections scheduled for next year.</p>
<div></div>
<p>Mugabe, who built a reputation for extensive international travel during his rule, will also be provided with a diplomatic passport.</p>
<p>Two weeks ago, in first trip outside Zimbabwe since he was removed from office, he visited a hospital in Singapore, apparently for medical checks.</p>
<div class="Attribution_attribution_o4ojT">
<p class="Attribution_content_27_rw">Reporting by Alfonce Mbizwo; Writing by Mfuneko Toyana; Editing by Kevin Liffey and John Stonestreet</p>
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Zimbabwe ex-army boss sworn in as Mugabe gets diplomat’s rights

<p>Retired army chief Constantino Chiwenga and veteran politician Kembo Mohadi will be sworn in as Zimbabwe’s vice presidents on Thursday, state-run Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation said on Wednesday.</p>
<p><div id="attachment_290718" style="width: 860px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-290718" class="wp-image-290718 size-full" src="http://cnbc.africa/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/GettyImages-873637260_Zim-Army-Gen_RZ1.jpg" alt="" width="850" height="566" /><p id="caption-attachment-290718" class="wp-caption-text">Zimbabwe Army General Constantino Chiwenga Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces addresses a media conference held at the Zimbabwean Army Headquarters on November 13, 2017 in Harare.<br />Zimbabwe&#8217;s army chief on November 13 demanded a &#8220;stop&#8221; to the purge in the ruling ZANU-PF party after the sacking of vice president Emmerson Mnangangwa, and warned the military could intervene. / AFP PHOTO / Jekesai NJIKIZANA (Photo credit should read JEKESAI NJIKIZANA/AFP/Getty Images)</p></div></p>
<p data-reactid="40">The pair, appointed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, were elevated to similar positions in the ruling ZANU-PF party on Saturday.</p>
<p data-reactid="41">Chiwenga retired from the military this month. His appointment was expected as a reward for leading a de facto coup in November that ended Robert Mugabe’s 37-year rule and brought Mnangagwa to power.</p>
<p data-reactid="42">It also adds to signs of a consolidation of power for the army since it turned against the 93-year-old Mugabe. Mnangagwa has appointed several senior military officers to his cabinet and the ruling party’s top decision-making body, the Politburo.</p>
<p data-reactid="43">Mnangagwa is under pressure from opposition parties and the public to implement political reforms.</p>
<div class="Attribution_attribution_o4ojT" data-reactid="44">
<p class="Attribution_content_27_rw" data-reactid="45">Reporting by Alfonce Mbizwo; Editing by Ed Stoddard and John Stonestreet</p>
</div>


Constantino Chiwenga

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Constantino Chiwenga

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Mugabe reveals his preferred candidate

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Zimbabwe ex-army boss sworn in as Mugabe gets diplomat’s rights

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