Prisoners have lost their teacher as Mukupe is released

Former Zimbabwe Deputy Minister of Finance Terence Mukupe has reportedly been released from prison after completing the custodial portion of his sentence for fuel smuggling, sources familiar with the matter confirmed this week.

The prisoners have lost their teacher, since he was offering maths classes in prison.
Mukupe had been serving an effective three-year prison term following his November 2023 conviction for a fraudulent fuel import scheme. Prosecutors proved that he imported diesel but falsely declared the consignment as water in transit in an attempt to evade customs duty. His bid to overturn both conviction and sentence failed in November 2024, when the Supreme Court dismissed his final appeal.

Though his release has not been formally announced by authorities, sources say he left prison a few weeks ago after qualifying for early release under standard remission provisions.

During his incarceration at Khami Maximum Prison, Mukupe reportedly distinguished himself through teaching. Prison officials noted that he offered lessons in mathematics and finance-related subjects to fellow inmates, with his classes said to have produced impressively high pass rates in internal examinations.

Mukupe, who briefly served as Deputy Minister of Finance in 2018, has not yet publicly commented on his release or future plans.