By Naledi Nyoni
MASVINGO — Police have launched a manhunt for two dangerous prisoners who escaped from Mutimurefu Prison in Masvingo early on Saturday.
Tafadzwa Janyure Zimirenyika, 27, was serving a life sentence for murder, while armed robber James Masunda, 34, was serving a 27-year sentence.
The pair escaped at about 12.10am and were due to be transferred to Khami Prison near Bulawayo to complete their sentences.
Police have deployed teams with sniffer dogs and drones to track down the fugitives.
A prison guard told investigators that he saw one of the prisoners climbing the outer perimeter fence.
“The guard tried to cock his firearm but it jammed.
Informant then alerted his colleagues and checks were made at D class cell and that is when they discovered that two inmates had escaped from the cell,” a police memo seen by NewsHour said.
Investigators also discovered that a burglar door had been cut with a sharp object.
Police said on Sunday they were following several leads and had deployed drones to assist in the search.
Investigators are also linking the two fugitives to a robbery at a tuckshop in nearby Zano in the early hours of Saturday.
