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>

Pindula News

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

A Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) officer was stabbed to death by her uncle around 8 AM on Christmas Day in Bulilima District, Matabeleland South. Police suspect it was a revenge attack.
The suspect, Khuliso Tshuma (35), who recently benefited from the Presidential amnesty, was arrested in connection with the murder of his niece, Priscilla Tshuma.
According to the <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/zpcs-officer-stabbed-to-death-by-uncle/">Chronicle</a>, nine years ago, Khuliso was convicted of raping Tshuma and sentenced to prison in 2016. He was released in April this year under the Presidential amnesty programme.
The officer commanding police in Bulilima-Mangwe District, Chief Superintendent Cabinet Thomas, confirmed the murder. He said:
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The suspect used an Okapi knife to stab the deceased twice, once in the neck and once on the arm.
Priscilla was sweeping the house while the suspect was drinking beer on the veranda. Without warning, he attacked her.
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Tshuma’s grandmother, Sibusisiwe Ndlovu, attempted to administer first aid, but unfortunately, she was unsuccessful.
Khuliso fled the scene immediately after the attack but was apprehended later that day, approximately seven kilometres from the crime scene.
The police recovered the Okapi knife used in the attack. Chief Superintendent Thomas added:
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We arrested the suspect some seven kilometres away from the scene of the crime. Investigations revealed that the suspect is an ex-convict who had been incarcerated for raping the now deceased.
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ZPCS spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Meya Khanyezi, expressed condolences on behalf of the organisation. She said:
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As Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the Tshuma family and loved ones during this difficult time.
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding this tragic event, and we are committed to ensuring that all necessary actions are taken to bring the culprit to book.
Our thoughts are with the Tshuma family and the entire ZPCS family as we seek to find answers and bring justice to those affected.
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Priscilla was a newlywed and mother to a child under three years old and was an accomplished football player for the ZPCS women’s team, a traditional powerhouse in Zimbabwe’s Women’s Premier Soccer League.
She was laid to rest on Monday, December 30.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

A prison officer in Zimbabwe was killed by her uncle who raped her nine years ago. The uncle, Khuliso, was released from prison earlier this year. He stabbed his niece Priscilla on Christmas Day. Priscilla's grandma tried to help but couldn't save her. Khuliso ran away but was caught by the police. They found the knife he used. The police are investigating. The prison service is sad and wants justice for Priscilla. She was buried on December 30th.

ZPCS Officer Fatally Stabbed By Uncle Who Raped Her Nine Years Ago

A Correctional Services Officer from the CPU section tragically took his own life using an AK-47 rifle while on duty on Christmas Day.
The officer, identified as Ndhlera, died around 5:45 AM on Wednesday at the residence of Justice Chatukuta in Marlborough, Harare.
The incident was reported to the ZRP Marlborough under RRB 6264217. An internal police memo obtained by <a href="https://www.hmetro.co.zw/prison-officer-shoots-self/">H-Metro</a> provides further details about the matter:
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On December 25, at about 0600hrs a telephone report was received by Chief Supt Mukombachoto to the effect that on the same day about 0545hrs at Justice Chatukuta’s place of residence.
2939614G Co1 Ndhlera Agreement of CPU section took his life using an AK 47 rifle whilst he was on guard duty in the company of 2939175E co1 Dziripi E also of CPU section at Justice Chatukuta’s place of residence in Marlborough.
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According to the memo, Ndhlela was on guard duty in the company of Dziripi at Chatukuta’s place of residence in Marlborough, whilst they were seated in the guard room. Reads the memo:
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At around 0545hrs co1 Ndhlera grabbed AK rifle which was on the table in the guard room and run out of the guard room due north inside the security wall about 15 to 20m from the guard room.
He stopped and corked the AK rifle with his leg, seeing this action co1 Dziripi ran away and jump the wall to the next house taking cover.
All of sudden he heard gun shoot and Co1 Dziripi also jumped the wall from next house where he took cover going out side into Lower Hampden street.
He checked from outside what had happened to co1 Ndhlera over the wall and saw him lying on the ground under a tree.
He then advised his superiors.
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More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

A prison officer named Ndhlera took his own life on Christmas Day using a gun at a judge's house in Harare. He was on duty with another officer, Dziripi, when he grabbed the gun and shot himself. Dziripi ran away and alerted their superiors. The incident was reported to the police. Officers were shocked and saddened by the tragic event. It is important to talk to someone if feeling sad or overwhelmed instead of hurting oneself.

Prison Officer Takes Own Life At A Judge's Residence

The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) has warned the public about a surge in fraudulent recruitment calls made by individuals impersonating ZPCS officials. These scammers are utilising social media platforms to spread counterfeit recruitment advertisements.
In a statement released on September 26, the ZPCS said that these individuals are deceiving job seekers into paying fees for non-existent employment opportunities.
The ZPCS emphasized that it does not charge any fees for recruitment, selection, or training. All recruitment activities are conducted directly by the ZPCS without the involvement of third parties. Reads the statement:
The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) urgently calls for public awareness regarding a disturbing increase in fraudulent calls for recruitment being perpetrated by unscrupulous individuals masquerading as ZPCS officials.
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These criminals are targetting job seekers, tricking them to pay fees for non-existing employment opportunities within the ZPCS.
The ZPCS has observed with great concern, a surge in scammers leveraging social media platforms disseminating counterfeit recruitment advertisements.
Their ultimate aim is to get money from hopeful and unsuspecting candidates, thereby causing financial loss and emotional distress to many.
Despite our consistent efforts to educate the public through various media outlets, we regret to inform members of the public that numerous individuals have already fallen prey to these deceitful practices.
The brazen nature of these scams is alarming, with some impostors even openly soliciting applicants to attend fake selection exercises.
The ZPCS categorically asserts that it does not charge any fees for recruitment, selection or training. 
All recruitment activities are conducted directly by the ZPCS without imposing any costs on candidates and we do not engage any third parties in the official recruitment processes.
We therefore wish to reiterate that all authentic ZPCS recruitment initiatives are publicly announced via established mainstream print and electronic media outlets.
Interested applicants are required to respond with written applications, and selections are conducted at designated ZPCS centres across all provinces.
In response to this growing threat, we strongly urge the public to independently verify the authenticity of any recruitment advertisements.
Citizens should consult the nearest ZPCS offices to confirm the legitimacy of any calls for applications to join the ZPCS.
Let there be no doubt, we are committed to protecting job seekers from these criminal activities and we need everyone’s help to combat these atrocities.
We thank you for your cooperation and commitment to safeguarding our community from fraud.
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More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service is warning people about fake job offers from scammers pretending to be officials from ZPCS. These scammers are using social media to trick job seekers into paying for jobs that don't exist. ZPCS wants the public to know that they don't charge any fees for recruitment. They do all recruitment themselves and don't use third parties. People are being urged to be careful and verify any recruitment ads before paying any money. ZPCS is working to protect job seekers from these scams and asks for everyone's help in stopping them.

Rising Recruitment Scams Worry Prisons And Correctional Service

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has ordered the release of 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.
In a statement released on Thursday, ZPCS spokesperson Meya Khanyezi said:
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These inmates were being rehabilitated and have been serving for the offences they committed against the state therefore, those aggrieved are encouraged to forgive them for their successful reintegration into society.
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According to a Statutory Instrument of an Extraordinary Government Gazette published last Friday by the Ministry of Justice, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs, those who have been pardoned include terminally ill female prisoners and juveniles who are not serving specified offences.
Those to be released would have served one-third of their sentences by 18 April 2023 while those who remain in prison are convicts serving time for violence-related offences.
Khanyezi urged communities to forgive and embrace the inmates that have been given amnesty.<a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/over-4-000-prisoners-set-for-release/"> She said</a>:
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We would like to appeal to the close family members, stakeholders, and the society at large to embrace and accept inmates who have been released on amnesty.
Successful reintegration of inmates back into society is not the sole mandate of ZPCS alone but it requires combined efforts from all citizens of Zimbabwe.
These inmates were being rehabilitated and have been serving for the offenses they committed against the state, therefore, those aggrieved are encouraged to forgive them for their successful reintegration into society.
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<h2>The number of inmates to be released per province:</h2>
Bulawayo Metropolitan – 688 (680 males and 8 females)
Matabeleland North – 231 (230 males and 1 female)
Matabeleland South – 129 (127 males and 2 females)
Harare – 790 (770 males and 20 females)
Midlands – 537 (527 males and 10 females)
Mashonaland East – 397 (358 males and 39 females)
Mashonaland West – 340 (333 males and 7 females)
Mashonaland Central – 206 (204 males and 2 females)
Masvingo – 398 (392 males and 6 females)
Midlands – 537 (527 males and 10 females)
Zimbabwe’s prisons have a carrying capacity of 17 000 inmates but were holding more than 22 000.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

President Mnangagwa Grants Amnesty To Over 4 000 Prisoners

A High Court judge has ordered the reinstatement of a prison officer after establishing that she was unfairly dismissed from service in 2019.
Rhoda Mawadze was the Rations officer-in-charge between August and December 2018 when some food items meant for prisoners went missing, <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/judge-orders-reinstatement-of-prisons-officer-sacked-over-missing-food-rations/">reported ZimLive.</a>
Mawadze was brought before a disciplinary committee chaired by Prisons Chief Superintendent Tawanda Chimika, which found her guilty of misappropriating inmates’ food stocks before recommending her dismissal.
She was unhappy with her dismissal and appealed through the High Court.
During the High Court hearing, it became clear that the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) accounting processes were in a bad state.
It was also established that responsibilities were haphazardly distributed among different members, making it wrong to blame a single individual for the mess.
Mawadze’s appeal was presided over by Justice Catherine Bachi-Muzawazi. The judge noted:
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… there was a glaring revelation of shortfalls, loopholes and weaknesses in their bookkeeping, handover procedures, security, and unrestricted access to food stores were a clear illustration of maladministration or administration in-efficacy and inefficiency.
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Justice Bachi-Muzawazi ruled that Mawadze was made a sacrificial lamb and ordered that she be reinstated without loss of salary from the time she was fired in 2019. Said the judge:
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She (Mawadze) then became the target and victim of a report she had initiated.
Even the handover-takeover procedures were not observed from the time the applicant assumed the rations post to the time the offences were laid against her.
They should have taken the flaws that were highlighted in evidence as a learning curve and a chance to re-evaluate and improve the inefficiencies in the system instead of taking a defensive strategy of penalising the small fish who brought the whole inefficiencies and saga to light.
…The court found the administrative decision grossly irregular and accordingly, dismissed the point in limine and upheld the applicant’s claim in terms of the draft order sought.
Resultantly, it is ordered that the decision handed down by the first respondent on 12 May 2019 be and is hereby quashed and set aside.
The applicant be and is hereby immediately reinstated to her employment without loss of salary.
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Prisons Chief Superintendent Tawanda Chimika, Commissioner General ZPCS Moses Chihobvu and Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe were cited as respondents.

High Court Orders Reinstatement Of Prisons Officer Fired Over Missing Food Rations

Opposition CCC leader Nelson Chamisa has given the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) a 24-hour ultimatum to explain why he has been blocked from visiting party activists as well as lawmakers Job Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole who have been in pre-trial detention since June.
Chamisa’s lawyers, Shava Law Chambers, wrote a letter to ZPCS Commissioner General, Moses Chihobvu, asking why Chamisa has been denied permission to visit the CCC activists who were arrested and detained for allegedly inciting public violence in Nyatsime in June. The letter reads in part:
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Our client advises that on divers occasions, he attempted to visit these individuals at both Harare remand and Chikurubi Maximum prisons, respectively, but upon arrival, he was denied access.
He (Chamisa) was advised by the prison guards that he was specifically barred from visiting anyone in prison detention without your written permission.
The basis for this requirement could not be easily ascertained from these guards.
</blockquote>
Chamisa has been barred from visiting Sithole and Sikhala but MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora was recently given access to see the duo.
Sikhala and Sithole, however, refused to meet Mwonzora, according to a spokesperson, Freddy Michael Masarirevu. Chamisa’s lawyers further argued:
<blockquote>
In terms of Zimbabwean laws, any person who is detained, including a convicted prisoner, has a right to communicate with, and be visited by a relative or anyone else of their choice, subject to reasonable restrictions which may be imposed for the proper administration of prisons or places of detention.
Further, a careful perusal of your prison policies would reveal that there is only a single category of visitors that are not allowed visit, these are those in need of conjugal rights.
Our client does not fall in that bracket and as such he ought to have been allowed to visit the aforementioned individuals.
</blockquote>
| <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/chamisa-gives-prisons-boss-24-hr-ultimatum-to-explain-refusal-of-access-to-mps-jailed-sikhala-sithole/">NewZimbabwe.com</a>

Chamisa Gives Prisons Boss 24-hr Ultimatum

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<div dir="auto" lang="en">Prison authorities have said prisoners may be temporarily released to attend funerals, weddings and other important family functions provided they apply and get permission from the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.</div>
<div dir="auto" lang="en">While responding to an outcry by some people that suspected land baron Felix Munyaradzi had been seen attending a funeral during his incarceration last year, Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS), reminded that the Prison Act allows inmates to apply for temporary release.</div>
<div dir="auto" lang="en">A relative, Mr Collen Mavhundutse had deposed an affidavit insinuating the temporary release of Munyaradzi was a violation of the law. However, ZPCS spokesperson Principal Correctional Officer Peter Chaparanganda said:</div>
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<div dir="auto" lang="en">The organisation would like to categorically state and advise the public that Felix Munyaradzi, an inmate remanded in custody at Harare Remand Prison, was granted temporary release from prison to go and attend the funeral of his father-in-law by the Minister of Justice, legal and Parliamentary Affairs Honourable Ziyambi Ziyambi on 14 August 2020.
The case of Felix Munyaradzi is not the only case where incarcerated inmates have been legally granted temporary release from prison. Several have previously benefitted in line with the provisions of the Prisons Act whenever circumstances warranted the granting of such release.
Previously requests were granted, for prisoners who know the law, to attend weddings and funerals. They can even be released to marry their loved ones, with the minister’s permission.</div>
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<div dir="auto" lang="en">Section 129 of the Prisons Act (Chapter 7:11) reads:</div>
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<div dir="auto" lang="en">The Minister may, subject to such conditions as he may specify, grant a prisoner permission in writing to be absent from prison for a specified period for personal, family or other reasons if, in the opinion of the minister, the circumstances of the case warrant the granting of such permission.</div>
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<div dir="auto" lang="en">PCO Chaparangandaarare’s remarks were supported by lawyer Ms Jacqueline Sande of Sande &amp; Partners who said the “minister is empowered to grant any prisoner, what so ever, the permission to be out of prison if the minister deems there are justifiable reasons, and it is purely at his discretion.”
South Africa-based Zimbabwean lawyer Mrs Tambudzai Gonese-Manjonjo also echoed above sentiments adding that “the permission has to be in writing. It only becomes a problem when permission comes from prison authorities or any other person.”</div>
<div dir="auto" lang="en">Chronicle reports that last year, six inmates including Christopher Mhembere, Gugulami Mabandla, Fainos Dick, Victor Moyo, Tawanda Munaiwa Mapinda, were released from prison to attend to personal issues upon being granted permission by the minister.
More: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/prisoners-to-attend-funerals-weddings/">Chronicle</a></div>
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