By Lloyd Takawira
After spendin over forty days in Zimbabwes Chikurubi Maximum Prison prominent journalist, Hopewell Chin’ono has described the deplorable conditions there as ‘unhealthy for human habitation’.
In a solemn rendition for remanded MDC vice chairperson, Job Sikhala, the journalist cum government critic Chin’ono said the conditions at Chikurubi Maximum Prison are beyond habitable.
According to Chin’ono prison cells meant for sixteen people have been overcrowded.
“Prison cell is meant to house ONLY 16 prison inmates, but like all other prison cells at Chikurubi prison, it is packed with 42 prisoners, and only has one toilet with NO running water for those 42 men. At times it can have more prisoners, I know so because I shared the same cell with Job Sikhala. At one point they wanted to bring more inmates so that we would end up around 75 for that night!”
Chin’ono also said despite the challenges posed by the menacing coronavirus pandemic prison authorities have no regards for social distancing.
“In the middle of a COVID-19 pandemic which requires social distancing, but not at Chikurubi prison! Sikhala and the other prisoners are locked up in this prison cell for 17 hours daily!
If you fall sick during these 17 hours, you won’t get any practical medical help at all. Down there they will be around 500 prisoners in section B, yet they only have 2 toilets for use, YES, 2 toilets for 500 prisoners from the 12 cells in section B. There is NO running water in the downstairs section just like in the cells, there are only 2 toilets for 500 people. Many die quietly and the nation never gets to know how life evolves in these prisons because of lack of transparency!”
Chin’ono also recounted how inmates at Chikurubi Maximum Prison are ill fed thus posing nutritional diseases .
“After waking up at 5.30 AM, Sikhala joins other prisoners downstairs in section B of the Chikurubi prison where they get porridge without sugar in it or anything else for breakfast. At 10.30 AM, Job Sikhala and his fellow inmates are given lunch which comes in old dirty wheelie bins! It will be badly cooked Sadza and boiled beans with no cooking oil or anything else, just boiled beans with water. Lunch comes at 13.30 for Job Sikhala and his fellow inmates again brought in the dirty wheelie bins. This time it is the badly cooked Sadza with boiled cabbages this is the dietary routine every day all year round. They get NO meat although the prison dietary book says that they are meant to eat meat 8 times a week”.
Chin’ono likened Chikurubi Maximum Prison to a ‘Concentration Camp’ as prisoners are asked to go on “Foreign” which is a lining up of prisoners. “Foreign” is a bastardization of “Falling In” where the prisoners sit down in lines of 5 if they are in the cell, or more if they are downstairs! They have no soap, they have no running water-NOTHING.” he said
Chin’ono said as a journalist his prison experience was an eye opener to the squalid conditions in prisons and how public funds are being looted.
“As a journalist being in prison was a front-row seat which allowed me to see how the regime has failed to run even a mere prison!
This is what happens when the State and government are being daily looted without legal consequence for the crooks and looters! “
The journalist contended that just like many political prisoners Job Sikhala has not committed an crime .
“Job is being punished because the State and the regime know that he has NO case in a proper court of law before an honest magistrate or judge!”
