adminLeonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
A MAN remanded in custody startled a magistrate when he appeared in court clad in civilian attire.
The development gave rise to speculation that the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services could be failing to provide prison garb to all inmates on remand.
This emerged on Friday when Jabulani Nyoni, 19, who was remanded in custody 12 days earlier appeared at the Victoria Falls magistrate’s court wearing a T-shirt.
Nyoni’s attire immediately invited a lashing on prison officers from magistrate Sharon Rosemani.
“Why are you wearing those clothes when you are on remand?” the magistrate asked when Nyoni who was wearing a light blueT-shirt was ushered into the dock.
Nyoni said he was told that there were no shirts.
“I’m only wearing a pair of shorts as I was told that there are no shirts,” he responded. The magistrate then directed her focus to prison officers.
She told them it was not allowed to have inmates wearing their clothes while in remand prison.
“Prisons, I can understand that you have financial problems but we won’t accept having an accused person coming to court in his or her own clothes when in custody,” she lashed.
A prison officer who was sitting in the gallery stood up and responded they have noted the concern.
Nyoni, a tsikamutanda-cum-self-proclaimed prophet, is being charged with assault and extortion. He allegedly terrorised villagers in Jambezi area where he claimed to be cleansing the area.
Nyoni initially appeared in court on February 9 and was remanded in custody.
The prosecutor, Listen Nare, on Friday said the State was opposed to bail for the extortion charge.
Nyoni will know his fate on March 6 whether he would be granted application for bail or not after the magistrate advised the State to clarify the charges.
The State alleges that Nyoni, who claimed to be from three places, Gokwe, Binga and Jambezi, forcibly dragged villagers to a shrine where he allegedly accused them of witchcraft and shaved their heads against their will. He was reported to the police after a physically challenged man Edson Chendonda Muleya, 56, and his 74-year-old mother, Jessie Chuma were left hospitalised after he allegedly inserted needles into their shoulders purporting to be exorcising evil spirits that he claimed possessed them.
He would allegedly cut them with a razor blade and administer herbs, the court was told.
Nyoni who is reportedly a holder of Zinatha certificates would demand cattle, goats, cash and grain from villagers as payment.
The crimes were allegedly committed between October 14 and December 12, last year.
Online Reporter