Prison escapee fingers officer

Nokusa Masuku Court Reporter
A MAN who escaped from Khami Prison after serving only two weeks of his 36 months sentence has claimed he got help from a prison officer. Lameck Nyathi, 54, broke free while he was out fetching firewood in the prison’s paddock, a Bulawayo magistrate heard yesterday.

Nyathi, who was charged with escaping from lawful custody, pleaded not guilty before magistrate, Singandu Jele.

Jele remanded him in custody to Monday for judgement.

Nyathi gave a light touch to the often serious court business when he told the magistrate that he never escaped from prison but bought his freedom.

“I didn’t escape. It was an arrangement I made with an officer, Silent Makapu, that I should be set free on condition that I pay him $200.

“He arranged that I go with other prisoners to fetch firewood so that I get a chance to leave. We met the following day and I gave him the money. I didn’t escape, I bought my freedom,” said Nyathi.

The court was silent on the original crime that landed him in prison.

Prosecuting, Tony Kamudyariwa told the court that on June 24, 2013, around 8AM, Nyathi was sent by Makapu, a prison officer, for an assignment with other prisoners to fetch firewood.

When the tractor trailer was almost full, Nyathi alighted from the trailer saying he wanted to pick logs to fill some gaps.

He walked towards his fellow prisoners who were loading firewood.

The court heard that when Makapu called out for Nyathi, he answered but when he called out for the second time, there was no response.

Makapu then discovered that Nyathi had disappeared and immediately launched a man-hunt for him.

The court heard that they failed to locate him since the area in which they were collecting firewood was a thick bush.

Police failed to locate Nyathi until sometime last year when he was arrested for stock theft.

During his trial, prosecutors discovered that he was on a list of wanted persons for breaking out of prison.