by Gift Mawire
Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) Deputy Commissioner General, Agrey Machingauta has been misleading the nation as to the actual number of casualties following the Chikurubi Maximum Prison riot last week.The official figure is 13 and not 5 , theZimbabwenewslive can reveal.
An prison insider who spoke on anonymity told the Zimbabwe on the phone that 13 were shot dead while the government is saying only 5 died due to a fire.
Machingauta said investigations are underway and the bodies have been taken to Parirenyatwa Hospital mortuary for post-mortem.A group of five prisoners set blankets on fire on Friday as they mobilised their colleague to join in a riot over relish.
According to state media the fire then spread to the ceiling on the staircase as all hell broke loose at the correctional facility.The inmates then started assaulting prison guards.
Reinforcements were called in from Police Support Unit and the Zimbabwe National Army.
Security forces were forced to use firearms to bring the situation under control.Investigations into the disturbances are underway.
