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overthrow President Mugabe, is “living large” in remand prison, a State prosecutor has said.
While others cringe at the thought of spending even a day in Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison in Harare, Matapo is reportedly enjoying great meals and even directing business affairs from inside the walls.
This came out during court proceedings last Friday before Regional Magistrate Mr Morgen Nemadire.
Matapo and five others – Ruperts Chimanga, Phillip Chivhurunge, Lucky Mhungu, Bigknows Wairesi and Sarezi Shonhiwa – were back in court on charges of attempting to break out of Chikurubi.
Matapo and Mhungu, through their lawyers Mr Charles Hwarara and Mr Gift Nyandoro, made an application for referral of the matter to the Supreme Court arguing that their rights were being infringed upon.
They claimed they were being ill-treated in Chikurubi and being denied access to information among other rights.
They also claimed that they were kept in solitary confinement in cells without natural lighting, and for a month they were denied clothing.
However, prosecutor Mr Michael Reza said Matapo was “living large at Chikurubi”.
He read a letter addressed to their lawyer Mr Nyandoro.
In the letter, Matapo reportedly told his lawyer that he wanted him to bring him bacon, polony, coca-cola, relish, biltong, roasted chicken, breakfast cereals and sausages among other goodies.
He also instructed his lawyer to help a man facing 16 armed robbery charges in his bail application because he wanted him to manage his affairs once he was granted bail.
Mr Reza said this showed that the application claiming infringement of rights was frivolous and vexatious.
Shonhiwa – who was not represented – told the court that Matapo and Mhungu took part in the foiled jailbreak and should be kept in solitary confinement.
Yesterday, Shonhiwa said Matapo tried to assault him for spilling the beans after last Friday’s court session.
He said Matapo again tried to attack him when they got to Chikurubi and prison officers had to restrain him.
Shonhiwa was subsequently transferred to a different section for his security.
Magistrate Mr Nemadire ordered the State to investigate his claims.
A prosecutor in the Zimbabwe Prison services legal department, Mr Trymore Paradzai, rubbished Matapo’s claims.
He said prisoners in Matapo’s section had the lights on because they have to be monitored every 20 minutes.
Mr Paradzai said although there were water problems in the Greendale area, Matapo and his colleagues were provided with water.
He also told the court that there was no solitary confinement in the country’s prisons although some were kept in single cells.
Mr Nemadire rolled the matter to today when the defence is likely to start cross-examining the State witness.