Prison officer demoted for having affair with ex-convict

A ZIMBABWE Prison  Services (ZPS) official who has been with the ZPS for 24 years has been demoted for having a romantic affair with an ex-convict.

The 46-year-old Sithembile Masuku who before her demotion held the rank of Principal Prison Officer and is resident at Khami Prisons Staff Residence was charged and found guilty of having a love affair with Douglas Denga, an ex-inmate (239/12 MIWL "B").

Masuku was charged with breaching Standing Orders of ZPS which relate to discipline, regulation and orderly conduct of the affairs of the service read with Section 3(15) of the Prisons Staff, Discipline Regulations 1984, that is "with intent to cause any breach of the provisions of the terms of the Act (Zimbabwe Prisons Act Chapter 7:11), conducting correspondence or personal relations with persons who have been discharged from prison or with relatives or friends or friends of persons who have been charged there-from."

The ZPS case is that sometime in December last year investigations were undertaken by the investigating officer Mr Mutale Bhanti, after Masuku's superiors suspected that she was involved in a love affair with an ex-inmate.

"Last year in December, I received a report that the accused was suspected of having a personal relationship with an ex-inmate. By then I started my investigations by interviewing inmates," said Mr Bhanti.

The investigating officer alleged that one of the inmates, Sifiso Sibanda, incarcerated at Khami Medium Prison confessed to seeing Denga inside Masuku's house.

"Sifiso was the only inmate who personally stated that he had an occasion to be among a gang of three inmates who worked at the accused's place of residence. The inmate stated that he saw Douglas inside the house when he handed them the tools that they were using," said Mr Bhanti.

He added: "I then called the accused for an interview. Upon arrival I took all her cellphones, and interrogated her about how she knew Denga.

"She mentioned that they go to the same church and he had come seeking clearance to access his money at a city bank."

Ironically, Sibanda refused to testify before the disciplinary court and he was alleging he was not the one who tendered the statement incriminating Masuku to the Investigating Officer.

"I was never advised that I will be one of the testifying witnesses before this court. I gave you the letter to be excluded, I do not want to take the oath and I cannot be forced," said Sibanda.

Despite Sibanda's objections, the disciplinary court found that his statement was admissible because it was made freely and voluntarily. Furthermore, Mr Bhanti said he searched through Masuku's phone contacts and came across a contact saved "Darling" which he beeped and Denga phoned back.

"When Denga phoned back, I asked him to come to my office. He mentioned that he proposed to the accused only after he was released from prison."