Feared rapist Mathe escapes from Prison

Convicted rapist and suspected murderer Cabangani "Mike" Mathe has escaped from Plumtree Prison in a daring early-morning breakout, triggering panic across communities in Plumtree, Bulilima and Mangwe.

Mathe, 38, reportedly cut through burglar bars using a hacksaw blade at around 2AM on Saturday before slipping out of the window and disappearing into the darkness. Prison sources say other inmates watched in disbelief as he made his escape.

Security teams launched an immediate manhunt, but by dawn Mathe had already vanished. His current whereabouts remain unknown.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police referred all inquiries to the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS), which had not released an official statement at the time of publication.

Mathe was serving a 20-year sentence for rape, handed down on August 29, and was awaiting trial for additional charges, including murder, sodomy and another rape case before the Regional Court.

His escape has reignited long-standing fears in Plumtree, where Mathe had built a reputation as a ruthless and untouchable figure. For years, he reportedly operated businesses, flaunted wealth and terrorised women, allegedly bragging that he was immune to arrest. Many victims were said to be too frightened to report him, while others who attempted to do so were allegedly intimidated or saw their cases collapse under suspicious circumstances.

His conviction on August 29 came after magistrate Dambudzo Malunga found him guilty of a brutal assault on his female employee. According to court papers, on 16 October 2024, Mathe forced the woman into his car, drove her to a remote location and ordered her into a cold water tank. When she pleaded for mercy, he allegedly submerged her head repeatedly until she lost consciousness. He then transported her home, made her change clothes and later raped her at his house before instructing her to report for work the next morning as usual.

Mathe's escape has also revived focus on several other chilling cases linked to him. Among them is the infamous "Judas Cop" saga, in which rogue officer Thembani Mukanyani is accused of removing a protected witness from custody and handing her over to Mathe. The woman was later smuggled into Botswana, where she was allegedly murdered.

He also faces charges of abusing a minor employed at one of his shops, as well as another case involving a woman he allegedly handcuffed, assaulted and forced underwater while stepping on her back.

For a man who long claimed to have powerful allies shielding him from accountability, his sudden disappearance has reignited fear in communities that hoped they had finally seen justice catch up with him.

The manhunt continues.