Munyaradzi Mashiri – Court Correspondent
A Harare prisoner who pulled off a dramatic escape by threatening guards with a smuggled revolver and hijacking a vehicle in broad daylight has been sentenced to 22 years behind bars.
Luke Zinyengere, 29, was convicted of escaping from lawful custody and armed robbery when he appeared before magistrate Letwin Rwodzi at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts. He received a 10-year sentence for the escape and 12 years for armed robbery.
According to the prosecution led by Lovet Muringwa, Zinyengere and fellow inmate Tafadzwa Richard Marondera had been denied bail by the High Court in early March 2025 and began plotting their escape.
The duo enlisted prison officer Donald Madzinga, who they regularly interacted with, to help smuggle a firearm into Harare Remand Prison. Zinyengere's younger brother, Tinotenda, later delivered a revolver concealed in a bowl of rice.
On March 21, Zinyengere hid the gun in his pants before heading to Court 12 at the Harare Magistrates' Courts. As he and Marondera were being escorted back to the prison truck, they sprang into action, brandishing the weapon and threatening prison officers.
Gunshots were exchanged as they fled the court premises, scaling the palisade fence along Mother Patrick Road.
During the escape, Zinyengere confronted Tinashe Chiyamuro, who had stopped his brown Mazda Demio after hearing gunfire. Zinyengere pointed the revolver at him and ordered him out of the vehicle, which also contained two Vivo phones and a smaller phone. He sped away down Belvedere Road toward the Kopje area, dodging further gunfire.
The vehicle was later discovered abandoned on Kaguvi Street, having been abruptly halted after Zinyengere nearly crashed into a spare parts shop. He fled on foot toward Engen service station at the corner of Robert Mugabe Road and Kaguvi Street.
Police dusted the vehicle for fingerprints before returning it to the owner.
On March 25, detectives from CID Homicide received a tip that Zinyengere had returned from Mutare and was attempting to hire a car at George bus stop in Ruwa. He was arrested following a foot chase near Electrosales in Msasa.
The stolen items, valued at around US$3,000, were all recovered.
In sentencing, Magistrate Rwodzi acknowledged Zinyengere was a first-time offender and a family man but said his actions warranted the maximum penalty.
"This was a well-planned and sophisticated crime. It was executed in movie style and left court officials, members of the public, and the car owner traumatised," she said.
"Escaping from lawful custody is not child's play. Society must be protected. Your actions show you're not ready for rehabilitation."
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