News / National
Mnangagwa pardons another MDC-T activist
23 Mar 2018 at 01:49hrs | Views
THERE were jubilant scenes yesterday at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison as MDC-T activist Yvonne Musarurwa left the prison walls alongside 87 of the 3 000 other inmates freed under the Presidential Amnesty.
Musarurwa was serving a 20-year jail term for the murder of police Inspector Petros Mutedza in Glen View in 2011.
The fate of her two co-accused, Tungamirai Madzokere and Lazarus Maengahama, could not be ascertained at the time of going to print last night.
Top MDC-T officials, among them secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora, youth leader Happymore Chidziva and youth secretary Lovemore Chinoputsa, were part of the crowd that gathered to welcome Musarurwa.
In an interview yesterday, the emotional Musarurwa said although she was grateful to the gesture, she was concerned over the fate of her co-accused, who were still inside the prison complex.
"I am very happy that God has remembered me today and I am so excited to be out," she said.
"However, I don't know what is happening to my two other co-accused. I don't know their fate as yet and my joy is not so satisfactory. It would be a different story if they were outside.
"In terms of prisoner officer relations, I have no problem. The only issue is that there is no adequate food inside prison and there is no adequate and deserving places to sleep. The toilets are not in good conditions."
Musarurwa was quick to point out her desire to see her party romping to victory in this year's elections.
She also wants prisoners to be given the opportunity to vote.
"To my party leaders, when we win the elections, I want the government to recognise the need for inmates to also vote. In 2023, when MDC-T government goes for elections, prisoners must be able to vote," Musarurwa said.
Mwonzora said the MDC-T was still waiting for the release of Maengahama and Madzokere.
Eighty-seven female inmates were released under the amnesty, while nine others stayed behind since they were previously granted amnesty, but were convicted again.
Musarurwa was serving a 20-year jail term for the murder of police Inspector Petros Mutedza in Glen View in 2011.
The fate of her two co-accused, Tungamirai Madzokere and Lazarus Maengahama, could not be ascertained at the time of going to print last night.
Top MDC-T officials, among them secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora, youth leader Happymore Chidziva and youth secretary Lovemore Chinoputsa, were part of the crowd that gathered to welcome Musarurwa.
In an interview yesterday, the emotional Musarurwa said although she was grateful to the gesture, she was concerned over the fate of her co-accused, who were still inside the prison complex.
"I am very happy that God has remembered me today and I am so excited to be out," she said.
"In terms of prisoner officer relations, I have no problem. The only issue is that there is no adequate food inside prison and there is no adequate and deserving places to sleep. The toilets are not in good conditions."
Musarurwa was quick to point out her desire to see her party romping to victory in this year's elections.
She also wants prisoners to be given the opportunity to vote.
"To my party leaders, when we win the elections, I want the government to recognise the need for inmates to also vote. In 2023, when MDC-T government goes for elections, prisoners must be able to vote," Musarurwa said.
Mwonzora said the MDC-T was still waiting for the release of Maengahama and Madzokere.
Eighty-seven female inmates were released under the amnesty, while nine others stayed behind since they were previously granted amnesty, but were convicted again.
Source - newsday
