Storm severely damages Khami Prison perimeter fence

A powerful storm that swept through Bulawayo on Monday afternoon left several buildings at the Khami Prison Complex's Medium Prison extensively damaged.

The complex - located on the outskirts of the city and comprising Khami Maximum Prison, Medium Prison, Remand Prison and Mlondozi, which houses female inmates and mentally challenged offenders - was hit by strong winds that tore off roofs and destroyed sections of infrastructure.

According to officials, the storm, which lasted several hours, ripped off roofing sheets from multiple buildings and damaged about 160 metres of the perimeter fence. Despite the extensive structural damage, no inmates were injured or reported missing.

Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) Deputy Officer Commanding Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, Assistant Commissioner Priscilla Mthembu, visited the site along with officials from the Civil Protection Unit (CPU) and members of the Joint Operations Committee (JOC) to assess the full extent of the destruction.

Inmates who had been housed in the damaged accommodation blocks were immediately relocated to unaffected cells to ensure their safety.

Officials from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works were also on the ground, inspecting and taking measurements of damaged roofs and trusses to guide repair works.

Meanwhile, under the supervision of ZPCS officers, inmates were seen digging holes to reset concrete poles as part of efforts to rebuild the destroyed section of the perimeter wall.

Assessments and initial repair works are expected to continue throughout the week as authorities work to restore security and normal operations at the complex.