HARARE – Two women allegedly snatched a loaded rifle from a prison officer guarding an inmate at Parirenyatwa Hospital in a daring escape attempt, the Harare Magistrates Court heard.
Delight Nhepera and Edita Kundishora from Marimbi Village under chief Seke appeared before magistrate Lynne Chinzou facing charges of attempted murder and for being accomplices to an attempted escape from lawful custody.
The magistrate advised them to approach the High Court for bail.
According to prosecutors, the two women plotted to free inmate Simbarashe Makunura — who himself faces attempted murder charges — from hospital detention under armed guard.
On September 19, prison officer Wiseman Banda was on duty armed with an SKS service rifle loaded with 10 live rounds when chaos erupted.
“Makunura distracted Banda by pouring water on his face thereby enabling accused one (Nhepera) to snatch the firearm. She threw the service rifle to her husband who was seated on the hospital bed while the accused two (Kundishora) and their aunt acted as a sentry,” the National Prosecuting Authority charges.
“The accused persons immediately escaped from the scene and left Banda wrestling with Makunura on his bed until he was dragged to the ward door by Banda.
“After Makunura was dragged to the ward door, he continued wrestling with Banda whom he attempted to shoot on the head but was overpowered.”
The court heard that during the violent struggle, Makunura pulled the trigger three times, discharging shots inside the hospital ward before being subdued and disarmed.
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