Highly placed sources at Chikurubi maximum security prison said Zanu (PF) sympathisers Madzibaba Gordon Nzira and Albert Matapo were the only inmates receiving food brought from outside.
Last month, the prison service (ZPS) ordered that no inmate could have food brought in by relatives after Matapo confessed to having drunk alcohol when he attempted to escape, and that the drink had been brought into his prison cell by an officer who was helping him.
A senior officer said they received an order from the top that only the two should continue receiving food from outside.
What is disappointing is that these orders and are being given for political reasons. Matapo is the very inmate who caused the banning of food into the same prison.
Nzira, by virtue of his strong affiliation to Zanu (PF) was selected, though the order was verbal. On Matapo, they said he was a diabetic patient, but we strongly think that there is politics at play, said the official.
ZPS is still relying on non-governmental organisations for inmates food as it continues to face serious food and transport problems.
Prison conditions have failed to improve despite the formation of the inclusive government a year and a half ago, with the coalition government failing to provide basics such as food, medicines and transport to ferry inmates to and from the courts.
Post published in: News