Prison escapees Tafadzwa Marondera and Luke Zinyengere both acted crazy during their Thursday court appearances in Harare. Marondera stood up with his back to the judge and claimed three invisible people told him to sit down. He refused to answer when asked to enter a plea. The court had to stop his trial because he seemed unable to follow what was happening. He even asked to move his case to a different courtroom or the High Court instead.
Zinyengere behaved just as strangely when facing his charges. He stayed silent when the judge asked for his plea about allegedly robbing Quest Finance of $800,000. His robbery trial needed rescheduling, though he must return Friday to face separate charges for breaking out of jail. Both men face escape charges, plus Zinyengere faces an extra armed robbery charge for stealing a Mazda Demio at gunpoint from a driver.
Court records show these men planned their escape after the High Court denied their bail requests earlier this month. They recruited prison guard Donald Madzinga to help smuggle weapons inside. Zinyengere's brother Tinotenda brought them a gun hidden inside a bowl of rice. On March 21, 2025, the prisoners hid this revolver in pants during a court visit. When guards tried returning them to the prison truck, they pulled out the gun, threatened the officers, and ran toward Mother Patrick Road.
Both escapees climbed over the court fence as shots fired from both sides. A prison guard tripped Marondera, leading to his capture. Zinyengere successfully escaped, stealing a car and phones from Tinashe Chiyamuro before speeding toward the Kopje area. He later abandoned the car on Kaguvi Street after almost crashing into a shop. Police found his fingerprints inside the vehicle. They arrested him Monday after receiving a tip that he returned from Mutare and tried hiring a car at George Bus Stop in Ruwa. The court denied bail to Officer Madzinga, who helped them.
Zinyengere behaved just as strangely when facing his charges. He stayed silent when the judge asked for his plea about allegedly robbing Quest Finance of $800,000. His robbery trial needed rescheduling, though he must return Friday to face separate charges for breaking out of jail. Both men face escape charges, plus Zinyengere faces an extra armed robbery charge for stealing a Mazda Demio at gunpoint from a driver.
Court records show these men planned their escape after the High Court denied their bail requests earlier this month. They recruited prison guard Donald Madzinga to help smuggle weapons inside. Zinyengere's brother Tinotenda brought them a gun hidden inside a bowl of rice. On March 21, 2025, the prisoners hid this revolver in pants during a court visit. When guards tried returning them to the prison truck, they pulled out the gun, threatened the officers, and ran toward Mother Patrick Road.
Both escapees climbed over the court fence as shots fired from both sides. A prison guard tripped Marondera, leading to his capture. Zinyengere successfully escaped, stealing a car and phones from Tinashe Chiyamuro before speeding toward the Kopje area. He later abandoned the car on Kaguvi Street after almost crashing into a shop. Police found his fingerprints inside the vehicle. They arrested him Monday after receiving a tip that he returned from Mutare and tried hiring a car at George Bus Stop in Ruwa. The court denied bail to Officer Madzinga, who helped them.
