Chikurubi inmates had cellphone

Inmates at Chikurubi Maximum Prison had access to a cellphone which they were using to communicate with outsiders.

This came out during the ongoing trial of the nine inmates who are facing charges of attempting to escape from lawful custody.

Lucky Mhungu and Lucky Matambanadzo told the court that they were handed a cellphone by one Taurai Dodzo to phone  the police or the media and report what was happening as they feared for their lives.

Presenting their defence outline, the two were on different occasions given the cellphone which had a dual sim card to make a call.

However, Mhungu said he could not make a call using the available cellphone as he had no knowledge on how the phone functions since he had been in prison for a long time.

Matambanadzo almost left the court in stitches as he repeatedly described how he was beaten by prison officers on the fateful day.

The inmates who have presented their defence outline are complaining of food shortages at Chikurubi, but Matambanadzo said he was once beaten by prison officers for not eating his food.

The two are facing charges of attempting to escape from lawful custody and inciting violence.