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Ms Macheka and her delegation spent almost an hour-and-a-half haggling with prison officials.
The prison officials wanted to establish if the delegation had clearance to enter the prison complex.
After consultations, the officials concluded that only Government officials who were part of the delegation could see the murder suspects.
Ms Macheka was not cleared.
But Justice and Legal Affairs Deputy Minister Obert Gutu protested, arguing that he had submitted names that included Ms Macheka to prison authorities.
Ms Macheka claimed she had a right to enter the complex without clearance.
“I am a private citizen and a mother. I have a right to visit the inmates just like any other person who is coming here,” she argued.
The prison officials later allowed her in together with Media, Information and Publicity Deputy Minister Murisi Zwizwai, Deputy Minister Gutu, Home Affairs Co-Minister Theresa Makone and Chikomo Senator Morgan Femai.
After the Chikurubi visit, the delegation went to Harare Remand Prison where 19 of the 29 suspects are detained.
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Ms Macheka ended up apologising for her delegation’s “bad” behaviour.
Mr Zwizwai caused a stir when he started singing inside the prison before the prison officers stopped him.
He argued with the prison officers, saying that his song was not a political one, but a religious hymn.
Mr Zwizwai flew into rage when he was told that he could not hand over cooked food Ms Macheka had brought for the inmates.
He grabbed the food and tried to walk away before he was restrained by his colleagues.
Mr Zwizwai’s conduct did not go down well with Officer-in-Charge Chief Superintendent Billiat Chibaya who told the delegation that he was implementing policy directives issued by Mr Gutu’s ministry.
“There is a directive, which is signed by Mr Gutu who is also here, for us to implement,” he said.
“We are here to implement policies you give us. The policy is that we should not allow cooked food in, but tinned food because of past incidents of typhoid.”
Ms Macheka and Mrs Makone then asked Chief Supt Chibaya for talks in his office to iron out their differences.
At the office, Mr Chibaya condemned Mr Zwizwai’s conduct which he said was bad, particularly when it was exhibited before the inmates.
“How do you show this kind of behaviour before the inmates?” he said.
“How do you expect me to be able to control them when you fail to respect me and threatening me like that in front of them.”
Ms Macheka and Mrs Makone apologised to Chief Supt Chibaya.
“We are very sorry for what happened. We did not know that cooked food is not allowed here, we will definitely bring the food that is required here,” said Mrs Makone.
Chief Supt Chibaya said he did not take kindly to what Mr Zwizwai had done in front of inmates.
“It is not us who make these policies, but it is you, our policymakers,” he said.
“What impression does it give to other inmates to allow cooked food to some when we deny others the same type of food?
“If there is disease outbreak here, it is me who would be made to account and some of the issues that would be raised are why I allowed cooked food in against standing rules.”
The 29 MDC-T activists are accused of murdering police officer, Inspector Petros Mutedza in Glen View in 2010.
Their trial is still on at the High Court before Justice Chinembiri Bhunu.
Online Reporter