dyton mupawaenda
Arron Nyamayaro
BUSINESSMEN Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu are not getting any special treatment from the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services, contrary to a number of claims which surfaced on social media, after they appeared at the High Court smartly dressed.
The two businessmen, who are facing fraud charges, had until yesterday appeared at either the Magistrates’ or High Court in prison garb.
Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu yesterday drew the attention of people when they attended court smartly dressed when some inmates were in prison attire.
The duo is on trial for fraud, involving US$7,7 million, in funds which were allegedly siphoned from the Presidential Goats Pass-On Scheme.
Their trial at the High Court is being screened live on ZTN Prime, which became a bone of contention yesterday with lawyers representing the accused arguing that they should have been advised of these developments.
But, it appears, it was their smart dressing, which probably gave an impression that they were going for a business meeting, even though they were coming from remand prison, which was the subject of a lot of debate on social media.
The underlying theme, in those discussions, was that the two businessmen appear to be getting special treatment from the prison authorities.
Chimombe and Mpofu also had their hair cut and they looked very relaxed throughout the court proceedings.
ZPCS spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Meya Khanyezi, said there was no basis for the claims that the two were getting any special treatment based on the clothes they chose to wear on their court appearance yesterday.
Ass-Comm Khanyezi said the revised law governing inmates on remand applies to all suspects.
Chimombe and Mpofu also had their hair cut and they looked very relaxed throughout the court proceedings.
“In terms of Section 72(1) of the Prison and Correctional Service Act of 2023, unconvicted prisoners are permitted to maintain themselves and to arrange for the purchase or receive from private sources at proper hours, such food, clothing, bedding, television or other necessities as the Commissioner-General may from time-to-time determine,” said Ass-Comm Khanyezi.
“If an unconvicted inmate does not provide himself or herself with food, clothing and bedding, they receive normal prison food, clothing and bedding,” she said.
Social media yesterday was awash with pictures and videos of the two businessmen coming to court smartly dressed.
Former Minister, Prisca Mupfumira, sparked similar debate when she was battling her legal woes.
Prison inmates were recently given the right to make calls, receive and send money to their loved ones during their incarceration.
Ass-Comm Khanyezi said the facility was accorded in line with the rehabilitation and correctional aspect in partnership with the Commissary System, which started at the end of August.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter