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Police said Maphosa (56) who together with Farai and two other accomplices, brothers Edmore and Bothwel Gana were jailed for 18 years by Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Nicholas Mathonsi in October for murdering Moses Chokuda                                                                                     in 2009, was allegedly killed by three inmates he was sharing a cell with.
The police said this was after he refused to join them in their attempt to escape from prison on Wednesday night.

Acting police spokesperson for the Midlands province, Assistant Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko who confirmed the killing, said police have since arrested the three suspects, Moses Pedzisai Mahuvava (30), Wellington Gadzira (38) and Johannes Nyasha Masiiwa (24).
Maphosa, Cde Machaya’s son Farai and the Gana brothers were jailed after a    two-week trial.

The conviction of the quartet put to   rest the much publicised case, which had seen the victim, Moses Chokuda of Gokwe whose body had spent close to two years in the mortuary at Gokwe District Hospital as his relatives refused to bury him. He was buried after the conclusion of the case.
Governor Machaya has since paid 20 head of cattle and $15 000 cash to the Chokuda family as compensation.

Asst Insp Mahoko said Maphosa had been sharing the same prison cell with Mahuvava, Gadzira and Masiiwa (24) when they allegedly connived and killed him by strangling and assaulting him for refusing to join them in their bid to escape from the prison cells.

“Allegations are that the three suspects, Gadzira, Masiiwa and Mahuvava who were sharing the same prison cell with Maphosa hatched a plan to escape from lawful custody on Wednesday night,” said Asst Insp Mahoko.

“The trio who were acting in common purpose took a wire, which was used to secure the cell light and used it to create a hole at the locked wooden door of their cell. After creating a hole they then asked Maphosa who had earlier refused to be part of their plan to follow them as they intended to get out of their cell through the hole but he again refused.”

He said the three then tore some strips from their blankets, which they then used to tie Maphosa’s hands and legs.
“They went on to put a cloth in Maphosa’s mouth before they went on to assault him. The trio then left Maphosa and got out of their cell through the hole they had created,” said Asst Insp Maphosa.
He said when the three suspects got to an open space outside their prison cell they took the advantage of darkness to again create another opening on the prison security fence.

Asst Insp Mahoko said the trio could, however, not immediately escape after creating the final hole as prison officers were outside the prison cell complex.

“There was no electricity on that night but when the trio were still pondering the next move after they realised that it was not safe to immediately make good their escape, the power was restored,” said the police spokesperson.

“They then dashed back into their cell.”
Asst Insp Mahoko said the killing was discovered on Thursday morning by prison officers who were conducting routine checks of cells.

“The matter was reported to police at Lalapansi Police Station who then attended to the scene leading to the arrest of the three,” he said.

Two of the accused, Gadzira and Masiiwa are awaiting trial for separate murder cases.
Their other accomplice, Mahuvava is serving a 30-year jail term after he was convicted by Gweru magistrate, Mr Vakai Douglas Chikwekwe early this year of 40 counts of unlawful entry and theft.