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Senior Court Reporter

THE investigating officer handling money laundering charges against Marry Mubaiwa will now be brought to court on the orders of Harare regional magistrate Mr Stanford Mambanje to explain why investigations were taking long to complete.

Mr Mambanje yesterday ordered that the investigating officer should appear before him on Friday next week to explain the delays stalling progress towards Mubaiwa’s prosecution.

This was after the State led by Mr Kennedy Madekutsikwa sought yet another postponement of the trial saying they were waiting for further documentary evidence from South Africa.

Mubaiwa through lawyer Ms Beatrice Mtetwa opposed the postponement and argued that the court should refuse to remand her any further on this charge after three years of remands.

“The State undertook to furnish us with a trial date today. The court, in its ruling, said it was the last chance and would not entertain any further excuses,” she said.

Ms Mtetwa told the court that Mubaiwa had been attending court over the past three years without progress in investigations.

“The State like all other litigants where it has genuine excuse must lead that evidence. If the State is waiting for further documents from South Africa then the investigating officer must explain why he needs more time,” she said.

Ms Mtetwa claimed that the alleged offence had been committed through Mubaiwa’s company and she was surprised as to why other shareholders of the firm were not also before court.

Mr Mambanje then ruled that the investigating officer should appear in court to explain the delays before he decides on whether Mubaiwa should be removed from remand.

Mubaiwa is also waiting for a ruling on her application for discharge at the close of the State’s case in another trial on charges of assaulting her former maid, Ms Delight Munyoro. That ruling is expected on Wednesday next week and if the magistrate finds she has a case to answer then her defence will open.