Prison Escapees Elude Cops
Chakalisa Dube | Monday February 6, 2017 17:17
The prisoners who have been classified dangerous by authorities escaped a month ago after destroying a fence with a manhole cover.
So far only eight have been nabbed. The last arrest was made nearly two weeks ago. The escapees were on remand and are facing charges for dangerous offences such as murder and robbery. Police, prison officials and soldiers have been working around the clock in a bid to arrest the escapees in recent weeks.
Gerald Estates police station commander, Edward Leposo provided an update yesterday saying that none of the leads provided to the police have led to more arrests. Chakalani Barati, Musa Willy, Elvis Ndlovu, Dzikhamani Ndebele, Innocent Nyoni, Edwin Ncube, Sunganai Tafiraushe, Givemore Chaloba, Brilliant Thabisani and Bruce Masuku are the escapees who are yet to be arrested. Two escapees are Batswana while the rest are of Zimbabwean origin.
“We have been getting various leads about the whereabouts of the prisoners, but they have produced nothing.
We are on the ground trying our best, but the search is proving to be difficult. What is key is that we are getting many leads from the public and we remain optimistic that they will lead to more arrests,” Leposo said.
Yesterday police insiders told The Monitor that a majority of the escapees might have fled the country, but Leposo would not confirm nor deny the insider position.
“So far we have not received any tangible evidence that the escapees have fled the country, but we cannot rule that out,” Leposo said, adding that law enforcement officers have intensified their search for the prisoners.
One the 18 escapees, Thabani Ncube was arrested in Zimbabwe where he is facing a theft charge and authorities in Botswana are processing his extradition to Botswana.
Other prisoners who have been arrested are Rowland Moyo, Gaomodimo Molosiwa, Mlindeli Moyo, Sicelo Sibanda, Godwin Mapunganyika, Charlotte Ndlovu and Methuli Sibanda. The prisoners were arrested in Francistown, Masingwaneng and Tutume.