Stephen Chidhumo

Stephen Chidhumo
Stephen Chidhumo
Died	2002; Chikurubi Maximum Prison
Cause of death	Death Sentence - Hanging
Other names	Richard Mangwiro Sithole or Sigauke
Known for	Futigive Criminal

Stephen Chidhumo was a convicted murderer. He is most known for being a fugitive along with his partner in crime Edgar Masendeke. Chidhumo became infamous for his escape from Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison in 1997. After his rerrest later that year, he was sentenced to death and was eventually executed in 2002.

Background

Chidhumo was born in Padare village, in Zaka. He attended Rusere Primary School but dropped out at Grade 6 and then went to live with an aunt in Bulawayo.

Arrest in 1991

In 1991, Chidhumo was convicted and sentenced to 4 years for car theft. He was released in October 1994.^[1]

Arrest and Jailbreak in 1995

After his release from prison, Chidhumo went on a robbery spree. He was arrested in Bulawayo in May 1995 but he escaped from police custody in Masvingo. A month later, Chidhumo was re-arrested in Mutare. Chidumio was sentenced to time at Mutimurefu Prison.

In prison, Chidhumo met Edgar Masendeke, Langton Moses Zano, Langton Charumbira, and Jameson Maverudze Musara. Together they planned and escaped from Mutimurefu Prison in November 1995. They overpowered and forced prison guards into the cells before walking away.^[1]

Rearrest and jailbreak in 1997

After escaping from prison, Chidhumo and Masendeke went on a series of armed robberies and murders in Masvingo and Manicaland Provinces. They were involved in several skirmishes with the police and somehow managed to evade arrest several times.

In 1997, Chidhumo was re-arrested in Mozambique. He was charged and found guilty on 24 counts of various crimes and was sentenced to 30 years by a Masvingo Magistrate after a Regional Magistrate, Selo Nare had sentenced him to 42 years for other offenses which he committed in Manicaland. He was sent to Chikurubi Maximum Prison to serve his sentence.^[1]

On 18 August 1997, Chidhumo escaped from Chikurubi along with three others – an ex-policeman Pedzisai Musariri, an ex-soldier Elias Chauke and Mariko Ngulube. Musariri was shot dead. Chauke was recaptured and Ngulube died from serious wounds sustained during the escape. Chidhumo managed to escape unscathed and rejoined Masendeke.^[1] They shot and killed a prison warden.

A $60,000 reward was announced for the assistance in the arrest of Chidhumo.

After 29 days, however, he was shot and arrested in Beira by a team of the Mozambican Police and the Zimbabwe Republic Police. Masendeke had been arrested two weeks earlier.

While recovering from his gunshot wounds are Parirenyatwa Hospital, Chidhumo was baptised by a renowned Catholic priest, Fidelis Mukonori. He was renamed Fidelis Chidhumo.