Zimbabwean pleads guilty to escaping from prison
Othusitse Khuwa | Wednesday May 3, 2017 16:38
The escapee, Mthokodzisi Sibanda, who had previously pleaded not guilty to escaping from lawful custody, surprised many when he pleaded guilty before Magistrate Ishmael Molobe on Tuesday.
He follows in the footsteps of his countrymen, Goodwin Mapunganyika, who had pleaded guilty to the offence three weeks ago.
So far, the police have managed to arrest Mlindeni Moyo, Sicelo Sibanda, Rowland Moyo, Gaomodimo Molosiwa, Thabani Moyo, Givemore Chaloba and Charlotte Ndlovu who has since died.
Mapunganyika admitted to the facts of the matter after they were read to him.
“I confirm that I escaped from lawful custody without any legal justification,” Mapunganyika said. His change of plea shocked many in the public gallery because he had previously insisted he was innocent, saying that he was given permission by Charlotte Ndlovu to go out of prison without being lawfully liberated.
After Mapunganyika admitted to the facts, Molobe said he was satisfied that his plea of guilt was unequivocal and therefore found him guilty as charged.
Meanwhile, prosecutor, Archie Makgoa from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) applied for a date of the facts to be read to Mthokodzisi. Makgoa said he did not anticipate that Mthokodzisi would change his plea, adding that as such he was not ready.
Mthokodzisi will appear in Court on May 15 for facts reading. In a related matter, Chaloba pleaded with Molobe to be transferred from FCII because prison warders were continually assaulting him. Chaloba said he fears that he will die at the hands of the prison authorities if he is not transferred.
“I pray with the Court to order that I be taken to the hospital because just this morning before I came to Court, the warders assaulted me again,” Chaloba said. Molobe ordered that Chaloba be taken to the hospital for medical attention while Makgoa said he was not aware of the allegations raised by Chaloba, but advised him to report the matter to the police.
The escapees are facing serious charges of murder, rape and armed robbery.
Two of them were arrested in Zimbabwe and are still awaiting extradition to Botswana. The FCII is currently used as a prison because the old Francistown State Prison is undergoing renovations.