by Christopher Makaza
Opposition activists who are currently incarcerated at Chikurubi Maximum Prison are allegedly inciting other inmates to protest, demanding their immediate and unconditional release citing COVID-19 infections, the Harare Post has learnt.
The opposition activists, who include Zengeza West Legislator, Job Sikhala, former MDC National Executive member, Last Maengahama, Transform Zimbabwe leader, Jacob Ngarivhume and End Time Message leader, Robert Martin Gumbura, allegedly want to take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to secure their release.
Nineteen out of 30 inmates who were tested for COVID-19 on 7 August at Chikurubi Maximum Prison were reportedly positive.
A highly placed source within the protests plotters revealed that they were deliberately fabricating figures of the positive cases, magnifying them to cause panic within the inmates and subsequently trigger action. The source also revealed that they are working with certain rogue prison officers who are giving them ideas for the success of the protest.
The source further revealed that MDC-Alliance deputy leader, Tendai Biti and lawyers representing the activists were also behind the plot. The contact said some of the mentioned people were giving them ideas on how to execute the protest under the guise of COVID-19 fears, whenever they pay them visits. He alleged that some prison officers were facilitating the uninterrupted intercourse between the incarcerated activists and the aforesaid opposition members.
In 2016, Gumbura and other eight inmates allegedly organised food riots and attempted a jail break. The planned protest could be his second attempt to illegally access freedom.
Chin'ono and Ngarivhume have on several times tried to seek bail without success. The two were arrested last month for inciting violence.
Sikhala was recently arrested after evading the police for nearly a month. He was among the opposition activists who were organising and encouraging the foiled July 31st, illegal demonstrations.
Chikurubi Maximum Prison has about 2400 inmates against prison officers’ establishment of about 580. Analysts say the officer/inmate ratio needs to be boosted to increase security in the wake of such threats.
