Prisoner escapes from Mutare jail

By Tatenda Mabasa | Nehanda Mutare Bureau |

MUTARE – A 24-year-old prisoner who was convicted by a local court of unlawful entry is now a fugitive from justice after escaping from lawful custody at Mutare Farm Prison where he was serving a three year jail term.

The fugitive Jealous Makaza made good his escape on September 24, 2013 and those with information about his whereabouts should contact the nearest police stations.

Makaza was expected to complete his sentence on 7 August 2015 but escaped from watchful eye of prison guards after sneaking into the wilderness from the prison garden where he was working. The fugitive together with other inmates were working in the fields when he planned his escape.

Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services Department Manicaland Principal Prison Officer Liberty Mhlanga confirmed the escape this week and said the department together with the police were tracking the fugitive.

“The inmate that escaped from Mutare Farm Prison had been sentenced by a Headlands court to three years in jail for unlawful entry. He was due to complete the sentence on 7 August 2015.

On September 24 this year while working with other inmates in the garden he sneaked from the group and escaped. We are hunting him down and we have since notified police in Manicaland of the case,” he said.

Last year an armed robber escaped from holding cells at the Mutare Magistrates’ Courts soon after being convicted of four counts of robbery.

Trymore Gata who was awaiting sentence ran away from prison guards and sped off in a gate away Toyota Mark II vehicle which was parked at the court’s entrance. Months later Gata was re-arrested and jailed.

In 2011 another armed robber was shot dead following a failed escape bid at the same courts in which members of the public gave chase and arrested the escapee in the city centre.