HARARE – Two prison officers have been arrested accused of helping accused serial rapist Sam Muropa escape from Harare Remand Prison on October 1, ZimLive has learnt.
The two have been named as Simbarashe Machekera and Ngonidzashe Munhuuripi.
Muropa, 31, was rearrested on Wednesday night after stealing a car. Police believe he was on his way to commit more crimes.
A Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services source said: “The two prison officers will appear in court on Friday. They were arrested by CID Homicide after it became clear that Muropa was assisted to escape.”
Muropa – who is accused of robbing 21 women and raping some of them between July and August this year – allegedly used three concrete blocks and a chair to scale the prison wall before vanishing. The alarm was raised at around 4.30PM on October 1 after he failed to return to his cell.
Prison authorities have been criticised for failing to inform the public that a dangerous prisoner was on the loose. Police were not called until October 3, ZimLive has been told.
Prosecutors say Muropa took advantage of public transport problems in Harare and patrolled the streets of the capital in a Toyota Wish looking for vulnerable women. He sometimes posed as a soldier using a stolen military ID card.
Once the women got in his car, Muropa, of Kuwadzana, allegedly diverted the route. At least six of the women were raped, while others were robbed at knife point.
