Man in court after escaping from prison

A 33-year-old prisoner who escaped from Kwekwe Prison on December 30 and enjoyed New Year's Day celebrations a free man in Silobela appeared in court on Monday after being arrested by police.

Moses Makotore, who was serving a six-month term after being convicted of two counts of unlawful entry and theft, scaled the security fence of the prison in the afternoon of December 30 to temporary freedom with just three months of his jail term left.

Appearing before magistrate Letwin Rwodzi on Monday, Makotore pleaded guilty to escaping from lawful custody, but blamed his actions on the police whom he accused of haunting him during his prison stay.

Makotore told the court that he acted alone and accused cops from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for visiting him almost weekly while he was in jail and threatening him with arrest once he was released from prison.

"They came and told me that they were waiting for me to be released and would arrest and interrogate me for other crimes they alleged I committed before my arrest. I was so afraid of them that I thought it was better for me to escape even though I was closer to being released from prison," Makotore said.

He told the magistrate that he could not make an official report to the Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services officers because the CID officers' threats were made in their presence.

Makotore, who injured his leg during the escape, was arrested near a mine in Silobela on January 4 following a tip-off from some villagers.
He was remanded in custody to today for sentence.

Tinashe Mhonda prosecuted.