A 39-year-old Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) officer, Donald Madzinga, appeared before the Harare Regional Magistrates’ Court on Monday, for allegedly aiding the escape of dangerous armed robbers.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Madzinga is accused of accepting a US$700 bribe to help inmates escape from custody.
Madzinga allegedly used his phone to coordinate the plan and provided a revolver to facilitate the inmates’ escape. Said the NPA:
<blockquote>
The inmates escaped from Harare Magistrates’ Court, with one hijacking a vehicle at gunpoint. Witnesses reportedly saw Madzinga handing over the firearm, and he was arrested wearing the jacket of one of the escapees.
Bail has been denied due to the seriousness of the crime, the risk of him fleeing, the potential to interfere with witnesses (some of whom are inmates), and the danger of further offences.
</blockquote>
The Magistrates’ Court also raised national security concerns, noting that Madzinga’s wife resides in the UK, which makes him a potential flight risk. Moreover, one escapee and the firearm used in the escape remain at large.

Pindula News

A prison guard named Donald Madzinga in Zimbabwe helped armed robbers to escape from jail for $700. He used his phone to coordinate the plan and gave a gun to the inmates. The robbers escaped from court, and Madzinga was seen giving the gun to them. He was arrested wearing one of the escapee's jackets. Madzinga's bail was denied because the crime was serious, and he might run away or harm witnesses. There are also concerns about national security because his wife lives in the UK, which could make him flee the country. One of the robbers and the gun used in the escape are still missing.

"Prison Guard Received US$700 To Help Armed Robbers Escape"

Donald Madzinga, a Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) officer has been arrested for allegedly providing a gun to an inmate, Luke Zinyengere, who used it to escape from custody on March 21.
Zinyengere, 29, later engaged in a shootout with prison officers at the Harare Magistrates Court before hijacking a Mazda Demio to flee the scene.
Madzinga is set to appear in court on Monday, facing charges of assisting an inmate to escape from lawful custody.
Zinyengere had been awaiting sentencing for his involvement in an armed robbery at Quest Financial Services in Harare on February 25, 2024, where over US$700,000 was stolen.
He was among several suspects arrested in connection with the robbery, including two security guards who were sentenced to 48 months in prison for picking up cash dropped by the robbers and failing to report it as evidence.
More: <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/prison-officer-is-arrested-for-slipping-gun-to-inmate-who-shot-his-way-to-freedom-at-harare-court/">ZimLive</a>

A prison guard named Donald gave a gun to an inmate named Luke, who escaped and caused chaos. Luke got into a fight with other guards, then stole a car. Donald got arrested for helping Luke escape. Luke was waiting for a verdict because he was part of a robbery where lots of money was stolen. Other people involved in the robbery were also caught. Luke and Donald are in trouble with the law now. The whole incident happened in Zimbabwe.

Prison Guard Arrested For Slipping Gun To Inmate Before Shootout And Carjacking

Two inmates escaped from Mutimurefu Prison in Masvingo on Wednesday and subsequently crashed a Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) vehicle that they had stolen.
In a statement, ZPCS spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Meya Khanyezi revealed that Feliciano Simango (also known as Fidelis Jorum Mauyangwe) was serving a three-year sentence for theft, while Never Matoma was serving 47 months for unlawful entry and theft.
The escapees reportedly took advantage of a supervised work assignment outside the prison facility. During this time, they unlawfully gained access to a ZPCS vehicle. 
However, they crashed the vehicle approximately 2.5 km from the site, rendering it inoperable. They then fled on foot.
Asst Comm Khanyezi confirmed that the incident is under investigation and added that security measures have been strengthened to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
She urged the public to remain vigilant and report any sightings or information that could assist in locating the escapees to the nearest police station or correctional facility.
More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/two-inmates-escape-from-prison-2/">The Herald</a>

Two inmates escaped from Mutimurefu Prison in Zimbabwe. One was serving time for theft and the other for unlawful entry and theft. They stole a vehicle from the prison and crashed it, then ran away. The prison is investigating and increasing security to prevent more escapes. People are asked to report any sightings of the escaped inmates to the police.

Two Inmates Escape Mutimurefu Prison

Prominent Zimbabwean lawyer Advocate Thabani Mpofu is considering a challenge to a law that prohibits prisoners from engaging in sexual intercourse with their spouses.
During the “Family Week” in 2019, Mayor Kanyezi, the chief correctional officer of the Zimbabwe Prison Correctional Services (ZPCS), said that while visiting rules and regulations for inmates were relaxed (during that week), this did not include the provision of conjugal rights. Said Kanyezi at the time:
<blockquote>
There are rights that are removed when someone has been convicted and sentenced in jail.
Soon after conviction, prisoners’ rights, rules and regulations are read to him or her, and rights such as having sex with your partner is not there.
Just getting convicted means you lose many of your rights that you were enjoying in the outside world.
We are saying this is a Family Week where you can visit and spend many hours with your incarcerated relatives but we are not saying those with spouses in jail can come and reignite their sexual relationships.
</blockquote>
Advocate Mpofu argues that denying conjugal rights to inmates undermines vital family bonds, which in turn affects the effectiveness of the prison system in rehabilitating offenders.
In a post on X, he asserted that conjugal rights are fundamental human rights essential for maintaining intimate relationships and fostering rehabilitation.
Mpofu argued that the state has a responsibility to uphold these rights, particularly for the benefit of innocent parties. Wrote Mpofu:
<blockquote>
Denying conjugal rights to spouses of incarcerated individuals raises concerns about the efficacy of our prison system.
How can rehabilitation occur when family bonds, essential to a person’s well-being, are disrupted?
Our stance is that prison should reform. How can it achieve that if it does not prioritize family life, itself the very core of human existence?
Further, why must the innocent spouse be punished by being denied conjugal activity whilst at the same time expected to wait faithfully for their incarcerated partner?
There is no doubt in my mind that conjugal rights are fundamental human rights, essential for maintaining intimate relationships and promoting rehabilitation.
That being the case, the state has a duty to uphold these rights, at least in the name of the innocent party.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

A top lawyer in Zimbabwe, Advocate Thabani Mpofu, is thinking about challenging a law that stops prisoners from having sex with their spouses. The chief correctional officer said during a special "Family Week" that prisoners cannot have conjugal rights. Advocate Mpofu believes that denying prisoners these rights hurts family connections and makes it harder for them to change and get better. He thinks that these rights are important for keeping intimate relationships and helping with rehabilitation. The state should protect these rights for the sake of innocent people. Mpofu thinks that prisons need to focus more on family life to help prisoners change.

Top Lawyer Considers Legal Challenge Against Law Banning Conjugal Visits For Prisoners

Hwange Colliery Company Limited (HCCL) has noted that crime has started going up in the mining town since President Emmerson Mnangagwa released more than 4 000 criminals that include rapists from jails through Presidential Amnesty last month.
HLCC Acting Loss and Control Manager James Phiri released a memo encouraging the colliery’s workers to be extremely vigilant. It reads:
<blockquote>
With the recent release of criminals from Zimbabwe prisons through an Amnesty, criminality in the community has started rising. We urge all employees and their families to observe the following all times:
<ul>
<li>Do not leave any valuable belonging outside the house at night chairs, clothes on the washing line, shoes and horse pipes.</li>
<li>Make sure all doors are locked and secured properly all the time.</li>
<li>Do not rush to open the door when someone knocks, check through the window first and be sure it is someone you know before you open the door.</li>
<li>Teach your children not to open the door to strangers.</li>
<li>Train your children to stay indoors all the time or have an adult watching over them as they play outside the home.</li>
<li>Train your children not to get “lifts” from strangers.</li>
<li>Train your children to shout “help! help! help! when in danger or suspicion.</li>
<li>Train your children not to use short cuts when coming back from school or going to school</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
Phiri warned employees against leaving their valuables such as phones or laptops with unknown people and also to report all suspicion with immediate effect to HCCL security.
Last month Mnangagwa ordered the release of 4 279 prisoners under a Presidential Amnesty.
According to the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS), a total of 4 166 men and 104 women were released from the country’s 47 main prisons and eight satellite prisons.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Criminality Rising Since Presidential Amnesty

Kambuzuma Member of Parliament, Willias Madzimure (CCC), says Zimbabwe has to amend its laws to allow prison inmates to be permitted family time and to exercise their conjugal rights, as happens in other countries.
The Government is currently working on the Prisons and Corrections Services Bill, which seeks to reform legislation governing prisoners.
Madzimure argued that allowing family time for prison inmates will enable them to keep their families intact whilst they serve their sentences. <a href="https://cite.org.zw/give-inmates-family-time-and-conjugal-rights-mp/">CITE</a> quoted Madzimure as saying:
<blockquote>
It is important that we have a special day at the end of every month where the prisoners can interact with their families because we have already punished the inmate by incarcerating him.
I think it is important that we also work along those lines and do something to make sure that we have got full rehabilitation of prisoners.
A prisoner who spends ten years in prison after leaving a one-year-old child, the child will be nine years old by the time he is released.
For him to go home and say, “I am your father, I am back” and expect the child to really embrace the father and understand that this is the father, will be a torrid time for both the prisoner and the child.
</blockquote>
Madzimure also said when a married person or one in a relationship, is arrested and imprisoned, their partners should be allowed to visit them to provide conjugal rights. He said:
<blockquote>
I would want to raise the issue of conjugal rights for prisoners. In Sweden, the moment you are arrested, you are interviewed and you submit the name of your wife, if you are married and if you are a married woman, you submit the name of your husband.
If you are a person who is not yet married, you submit your girlfriend’s name.
So every Thursday, you are allowed to be visited by your wife or husband in private. The reason is very simple.
The issue of sexuality is not a secret and for us to expect someone to go to prison and spend ten years alone in prison without enjoying his or her rights, I think it is wrong.
This can be corrected so easily by making sure that we have prisoners with private accommodations that can be used for that purpose because let us not assume that there is nothing happening in prisons.
A lot of things happen in prison – so let it be clear that this is the facility that we have in prisons.
</blockquote>
Last week, President Emmerson Mnangagwa pardoned 4 279 prisoners under the latest Presidential Amnesty.
According to the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS), a total of 4 166 men and 104 women will be released from the country’s 47 main prisons and eight satellite prisons.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Give Prisoners Family Time And Conjugal Rights - CCC MP

Two prison inmates who were serving three-year sentences for unlawful entry reportedly escaped from Gokwe Prison, taking advantage of lax security, on Saturday evening.
The escapees then robbed a shop owner at Gwehava business centre, a few kilometres from Gokwe town.
<a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200009058/2-gokwe-prisoners-escape-rob-shop-owner">NewsDay</a> reported sources saying that one of the escapees was re-arrested, while his accomplice, Decent Sibanda of Kana Mission, is still at large.
Sibanda, whose prison number is 357/21, began his three-year sentence on 1 June 2021.
He was expected to complete his sentence on 31 May 2023.
The escapees were reportedly at a prison farm near Gwehava business centre where they were looking after the prison cattle and maize.
After escaping from lawful custody, they robbed a nearby shop of some grocery goods and other valuables.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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