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Yoliswa Dube Chronicle Reporter
A MOTHER of four from Botswana is stuck at Mlondolozi Prison on the outskirts of Bulawayo two months after serving a 14-day sentence for illegal immigration.
Flora Mafatsi, 29, has been at Mlondolozi Female Prison housed at Khami Prison Complex for nearly three months. She told Chronicle during a recent visit to the prison that her prolonged stay was due to lack of transport to take her back to Botswana.
Mafatsi was arrested after she failed to produce a passport on her entry into the country recently.
She pleaded guilty to the crime and was sentenced to 14 days in prison.
“I was sentenced to either serving 14 days in prison or paying a fine of $200 but I failed to raise that money. I was then jailed for 14 days but those have since lapsed yet I’m still held here,” said Mafatsi.
“When I asked the prison officers what was going on, I was told there was no transport to take me back to Botswana.”
The visibly disconsolate woman said she was keen to meet senior prison officers in charge and discuss her problem with them.
“I’ve never had a meeting with the officer-in-charge. I’ve been communicating with the prison officers only,” she said.
Mafatsi could not hold her tears when she said she misses home and her four children in particular.
“I’ve four children aged 14, 13, 7 and 3, who I’ve to take care of but I can’t do that as long as I’m here. I haven’t had visitors because they’ve failed to follow the necessary procedures required for one to visit,” she said.
“My husband works in South Africa. I don’t know anything about what is happening in the outside world and the prison officers are not doing anything to help me. I thought I would have been deported by now.”
Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services acting public relations officer for Matabeleland region Senior Prison Officer Garainashe Moyo said Mafatsi’s allegations were unfounded as the prison had a truck that went to Plumtree on a regular basis, which could have transported her back to her native land.
“This woman is lying. She could’ve easily been deported because we have transport that goes to Plumtree on a regular basis,” said SPO Moyo.
“I’m reliably informed by the officer in charge of Mlondolozi Female Prison that a board came to meet Mafatsi in order to determine whether or not she should be deported but she failed to furnish them with the information they needed.”
SPO Moyo said the board was yet to give a report back on the issue. “That’s why she’s still here,” he said.
SPO Moyo confirmed that Mafatsi had completed her sentence.
Mafatsi, however, denied meeting anyone or any immigration board, saying the responsible officers were mum about her release.
Online Reporter