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Prison saying prison officers were not at war with any of them.
Zimbabwe Prison Services national prosecutor in charge of inmates and officers’ discipline Mr Trymore Paradzai said this during an inspection in loco carried out at the institution.
“It’s not like we are in a war situation where we would like to see an inmate dying, we would not like to fix any inmate.
“After some inquiries we realised we cannot house some people in the same cell.
“We separate people whom we think might connive as a security measure,” he said.
The court wanted to acquaint itself with the conditions that treason suspect Albert Mugove Matapo and his alleged accomplice in the jail breaking case are living in.
Matapo, Ruperts Chimanga, Phillip Chivhurunge, Lucky Mhungu, Bigknows Wairesi and Sairezi Shonhiwa are facing charges of attempting to break out of Chikurubi Maximum.
Matapo and Mhungu want their case to be referred to the Supreme Court arguing that their rights were being infringed upon.
The suspects claim the cells they are living in were once condemned and that they are being ill-treated.
Matapo and Mhungu told regional magistrate Mr Morgen Nemadire that there was no natural light in their cells.
They however, said they related well with prison officers.
Mr Nemadire, who is presiding over the matter, had the opportunity to get into Matapo’s cell and concurred that there would be darkness if lights were turned off.
Matapo’s lawyer Mr Charles Warara complained that his clients had no access to fresh air in their cells.
The court was shown a courtyard where the inmates play plastic football for 30 minutes a day. Mr Paradzai said the inmates could not use a proper ball because they would damage the Closed Circuit Television System.
The court was also led to Shonhiwa’s cell so it could make a comparison.
The matter was postponed to tomorrow when the defence and State counsel are expected to make submissions on the visit.
Prosecutor Mr Michael Reza alleges that sometime in March last year the six connived with Asani Chikwanda (serving) to escape from prison.
Prison officer Donald Gwekwerere, who is currently on bail pending appeal, allegedly supplied them with tools.
On April 4, it is alleged, Chimanga, Mhungu, Wairesi, Chivhurunge, Shonhiwa and Matapo used a hacksaw to cut burglar bars securing the observation window to their cell.
It is alleged they smashed the window and got out but a prison officer caught them as they tried to make good of their escape.