Chronicle Editor
Freeman Razemba Crime Reporter
A criminal serving a five-year jail term for theft escaped from prison guards who were monitoring him and other prisoners as they performed manual work at Zimbabwe National Army’s Alphida Barracks in Chinamhora on Tuesday.
Misheck Tiki (28)’s whereabouts are still unknown and police have launched a manhunt for him.
The incident occurred while they were having lunch.
Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed the incident.
“The prisoner, Misheck Tiki, was convicted of theft at Kadoma Magistrate Court on June 20, 2016 and sentenced to five years in prison,” she said.
“Circumstances are that the prisoner was out on duty at Alphida Barracks and took the opportunity to escape during lunch, when everyone was relaxing.”
Snr Asst Comm Charamba said Tiki has a scar on the right leg and an amputated right index finger.
He was last seen wearing a blue track suit top, white short and T-shirt.
Snr Asst Comm Charamba appealed to anyone with information that might lead to his arrest to contact any nearest police station or the national complaints desk on (04) 703631.
In October 2014, there were reports that at least 78 prisoners had escaped from the country’s correctional facilities between 2013 and 2014, raising concerns over the laxity of security at prisons.
Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services spokesperson Chief Superintendent Elizabeth Banda said then that despite the incidents, Zimbabwe was still within the international standards in terms of prison security.
B Class prisoners, she said, constituted the majority of those that escaped since they were allowed to work outside their prisons.
Chief Supt Banda said Mashonaland region had the highest number of escapees, while two officers were assaulted during the incidents.
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