THE Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) in Gwanda has sought the transfer of two robbers awaiting trial for murder as it fears they would escape.
STAFF REPORTER
ZPCS wants the two convicts to be transferred to Khami Maximum Prison saying they posed a high security risk.
Fortunate Ncube (39) of Gwakwe village under Chief Mathema in Gwanda and Elijah Gordon (29) of Sigodo village in the same district are already serving a 10-year jail term at Gwanda Prison awaiting trial for a murder case in which they are jointly charged with Darlington Ndlovu (33) of Jahunda, Gwanda, Mkhokheli Ncube (25) of Gwakwe, Christopher Sibanda (39) and Nqobizitha Phiri (39) of Sigodo, Absalom Sibanda (34) of Ultra-High, Gwanda and Qiniselani Ngwenya (29) of Lushongwe village in Gwanda.
In a letter dated June 5 2014, the Gwanda Prison officer-in-charge only identified as M Ngwenya, indicated to Matabeleland South provincial magistrate Reuben Mukavhi that the ZPCS was requesting the transfer of the two prisoners pending their appearance at the Bulawayo High Court on the charge of murder.
“We hereby request that the records of Elijah Gordon and Fortunate Ncube be transferred to Tredgold Court,” Ngwenya wrote.
“The two prisoners are serving 10 years each while trials on murder are pending. With these long sentences, we feel the prisoners might escape. They need to be at Khami Maximum Prison as they wait for commencement of their trial at the Bulawayo High Court. The two will be brought back for restitution purposes on December 31 2014.”
Mukavhi cleared their transfer and wrote a letter to the Matabeleland North provincial magistrate manning the Bulawayo Tredgold courts Elias Mangate indicating that he had transferred the two prisoners as per the ZPCS request.
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In his letter dated June 13, Mukavhi wrote: “May you please accept the transfer of the two prisoners named to your court at Bulawayo for routine remand purposes. The two are serving 10 years for robbery and at the same time are awaiting trial for murder.
“The situation places them in a high security risk bracket thus prompting Gwanda Prison to request their transfer to Khami Maximum Prison.”
In the alleged murder, the two and their six accomlices are said to have gone to Valentine Mine at Blanket Farm in Gwanda on My 28 2013 where they teamed up and confronted the now deceased Isaac Gweta and his friend who were panning at the mine.
