Prison escapee gets 22 years

Yeukai Karengezeka, Court Correspondent

LUKE Zinyengere, a convicted prison escapee, has been sentenced to 22 years in prison for orchestrating an armed breakout and committing a motor vehicle robbery at the Harare Magistrates Court.

Presiding magistrate Mrs Letwin Rwodzi highlighted the premeditated and sophisticated nature of Zinyengere’s crimes.

“The circumstances of these offences warrant the maximum penalty. Although the accused is a family man and a first-time offender, he chose to begin his criminal career with serious and aggravating crimes,” she said.

Mrs Rwodzi described the escape as executed in “movie-style fashion”, traumatising court officials and the public.

She emphasised the importance of protecting society from such actions, declaring, “Escaping from lawful custody is not a trivial matter.”

Zinyengere received a 10-year sentence for unlawful escape and 12 years for robbery, to be served consecutively.

The magistrate noted that his actions demonstrated a disregard for rehabilitation, necessitating a harsh sentence to deter others.

In his defence, Zinyengere claimed he escaped to check on a business in Mozambique where he had delivered phones.

He explained that he intended to use the stolen vehicle to flee.

Prosecutor Mr Loveti Muringwa countered that Zinyengere’s actions endangered public safety, stressing that the firearm used during the escape remains unrecovered.

Zinyengere’s accomplice, Tafadzwa Richard Marondera, was sentenced to 10 years in jail for his role in the escape.