Gumbura was ‘main actor’ in Chikurubi riots

By Fungai Lupande

HARARE – Prison officers begged for tea from jailed Independent End Time Message leader Robert Martin Gumbura, who was regarded as a godfather at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison, the court heard yesterday.

Testifying, an inmate, Claudius Mutizwa, added that Gumbura was the “main actor” who initiated the foiled jailbreak in March this year.

“Gumbura was very popular and was regarded as the godfather in all sections. Prison wardens used to get tea from him,” he said.

“He also supplied cigarettes and jolly juices to inmates. Gumbura is the one who incited the melee. Had it not been for him, there would not have been any violence or blood-letting.”

Mutizwa told the court that March 13 was D-Day for the inmates to demonstrate and a senior prison officer identified as Chikudo ordered him to summon Gumbura into the library.

“Chikudo advised Gumbura that the mission was to be aborted according to instructions from Albert Matapo.

“It was too late because the inmates had started demonstrating. Gumbura was frustrated because he wanted the mission to proceed.

“I later saw Chikudo taking documents from Gumbura and later the prison officer advanced to D-Hall and the shooting started.”

However, before his testimony Mutizwa told the court that he was receiving threats from prison officers.

“There is a lot of nepotism at ZPCS and if I had known that some prison wardens are above the law, I would not have said anything in court,” he said.

“Maybe I misinterpreted the Constitution, I thought it is the duty of ZPCS to protect us but now it seems they are against us. Because of this case, inmates who are testifying are receiving food in dirty plates and cups.

“We started receiving death threats and someone tipped us that our food will be poisoned.

“We wanted to report the matter to the police but nothing is being done to assist us. We are treated as condemned prisoners.”

Harare magistrate Mr Francis Mapfumo ordered the State to engage the police and investigate the threats of violence against the inmates by ZPCS wardens.

The magistrate also dismissed the application by armed robber Lucky Matambanadzo (39), Blessing Chauke (25), Lucky Mhungu (38), Taurai Dodzo (47), Thomas Chacha (37), Thulani Chizema (32), Jacob Sibanda (28) and Elijah Vhumbunu (38), to have access to the post-mortem results of four inmates killed during the March 13 attempted jail break in order for them to strengthen their defence case.

Gumbura and the eight are facing charges of attempting to escape from lawful custody, incitement in aggravating circumstances or alternatively, conspiracy in aggravating circumstances for alleged malicious damage to property. The Herald