By Tarisai Masimba

Harare – Startling revelations emerged on Friday as South African medical doctor Willi Leo Sieling testified in Harare magistrates court, claiming that Mary Mubaiwa, the former wife of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, had alleged that President Emmerson Mnangagwa orchestrated a plot to kill his deputy in 2018.

The shocking testimony came as part of the ongoing trial where Mubaiwa faces charges of attempting to murder her ex-husband, Chiwenga, who is also Zimbabwe’s former army general. Sieling recounted that Mubaiwa had relentlessly pressured him to administer a dangerous narcotic drug, pethidine, to sedate Chiwenga.

“On June 29, 2019, I was accosted by the suspect (Mubaiwa) who was unhappy about a surgical procedure conducted on Chiwenga without her consent,” Sieling told the court. “She scolded and shouted at me, insisting that I give Chiwenga pethidine.”

Pethidine, a highly addictive narcotic analgesic, is known for its sedative effects. Sieling’s refusal to administer the drug led to a series of continuous calls and messages from Mubaiwa, with her claims escalating to accusations that President Mnangagwa sought to eliminate Chiwenga, beginning with a grenade attack.

The accusation dates back to an explosive incident that occurred on the eve of Zimbabwe’s July 2018 elections, where an explosion struck a rally addressed by President Mnangagwa at White City Stadium. Vice President Chiwenga survived the attack, but several individuals suffered injuries and three security aides lost their lives.

Sieling’s testimony further revealed that he was called in December 2018 by John Mangwiro, the Health deputy minister, to attend to Chiwenga at a hotel in Pretoria. Mubaiwa was reportedly present during the discussions. Sieling disclosed that during a subsequent visit, Mubaiwa introduced him to another individual, Dr. Bruce Peck, at Sheraton Hotel.

Intriguingly, Sieling was handed a sum of $1,900 by Mubaiwa during one of these encounters, although he was unsure of the purpose. Sieling continued his testimony, indicating that he suspected Chiwenga was being administered pethidine based on conversations with Chiwenga’s security team. Sieling’s suspicions were confirmed when a urine specimen test revealed the presence of pethidine.

Sieling expressed his distress over the situation, fearing he could no longer provide appropriate medical care to Chiwenga. President Mnangagwa requested a report on the matter, and Chief secretary to the President and Cabinet, Misheck Sibanda, also visited South Africa to assess Chiwenga’s health.

The trial has been adjourned until August 28, and the allegations have raised questions about the relationship dynamics and possible motivations behind the dramatic events involving high-ranking officials.

While these revelations have sent shockwaves through Zimbabwe’s political landscape, the trial continues to shed light on the complex web of interactions between key figures in the country’s leadership.