Inmate who staged daring Harare prison escape jailed 10 years
By Staff Reporter
A Harare Remand Prison inmate, who, together with an accomplice, made a daring escape from prison guards amid exchange of gunfire, has been jailed 10 years after being found guilty for escaping from lawful custody.
Tafadzwa Richard Marondera (29), a robbery suspect, had been denied bail by the High Court when he staged the foiled escape on 21 March this year.
According to prosecutors, Marondera connived with fellow Harare Remand Prison inmate Luke Zinyengere to escape.
“They enlisted prison officer Donald Madzinga to smuggle a revolver into the prison. The offender’s brother Tinotenda delivered the gun concealed in a bowl of rice,” the state said.
“On the 21st of March, the offender hid the revolver in his pants and went to the Harare Magistrates’ Court where they were scheduled to appear in court.
“As the offender was being escorted to the prison truck in order to be taken back to the Harare Remand Prison, he threatened to shoot the prison officers before fleeing towards Mother Patrick Road, scaling the palisade fence around the court premises.”
Marondera was apprehended after being tripped by a prison officer while Zinyengerere aided his escape by hijacking a motorist who was driving a Mazda Demio after threatening the driver with the revolver.
He was rearrested three days later by detectives from CID Homicide.
