admin
The prison officials later allowed Ms Macheka 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.
Ms Macheka came face to face with the rogue behaviour of the MDC-T officials and she ended up apologising for their bad behaviour at the prison.
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 later burst into a fit of 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 who were led by Ms Macheka in apologising to the officers.
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 to meet Chief Supt Chibaya 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?” he asked
Ms Macheka and Mrs Makone made a passionate apology 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