THREE Whawha Prison inmates are on the run after assaulting police officers before escaping from police custody on Saturday evening.
The incident took place at Mzilikazi Police Station during an officers’ shift changeover at around 8pm.
The escapees were identified as Pardon Makuni, 19, Menard Kwatiedza, 22, and Ashley Moses, 21.
They all reside in Gweru.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, pictured, confirmed the escape in an interview with the Daily News yesterday.
“I can confirm that we are investigating a case where three accused persons who were in remand prison at Whawha Prison in Gweru, Midlands, escaped police custody at Mzilikazi Police Station in Bulawayo where they were under CID Bulawayo. The three had been taken from Whawha Prison to come for indications in Bulawayo,” said Nyathi.
He said the gang attacked police officers just as they were having an officers’ shift changeover on Saturday evening and vanished into the darkness.
“We are still investigating the circumstances, however, the suspects attacked officers during a shift changeover and it is not yet clear how it happened,” he said.
Nyathi said the escapees are facing charges of unlawful entry and theft, robbery and rape committed in Bulawayo and Gweru.
He appealed to the public to assist the police in locating the suspects, whom he described as dangerous.
Makuni and Moses are from Ascot, Gweru, while Kwatiedza is from Claremont in the same city.
by
Andile Tshuma
in BULAWAYO
