ZPCS prison guard gave a gun to US$720,000 cash heist armed robber Luke Zinyengere and helped him escape after receiving $700 payment

Harare – A prison officer has appeared in a Harare court, accused of assisting a notorious armed robber in a brazen escape from custody. The case has exposed alleged corruption within the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS), with claims of a US$700 bribe paid to facilitate the inmate’s flight.

Donald Madzinga, 39, a ZPCS officer stationed at Harare Remand Prison, appeared before Harare magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa. He was not asked to plead and was remanded in custody until today for his bail application. Prosecutor Lancelot Mutsokoti stated the state’s opposition to bail, promising to present evidence from the investigating officer.

The allegations against Madzinga are that he colluded with inmates Tafadzwa Richard Marondera and Luke Zinyengere, both facing multiple armed robbery charges, to orchestrate their escape.

The state alleges that early this month, Madzinga conspired with the inmates, agreeing to smuggle a revolver into the prison in exchange for US$700. According to the prosecution, Madzinga used his phone to allow the inmates to communicate with Tinotenda Zinyengere, a relative of Luke, regarding the details of their plan.

Tinotenda Zinyengere allegedly raised US$700, which he handed over to Madzinga, who then agreed to facilitate the deal. Upon receiving the cash and the firearm, Madzinga allegedly passed the revolver to Luke Zinyengere, who concealed it in his cell.

On March 21, 2025, when both inmates were scheduled to appear in Court 12 at the Harare Magistrates’ Court, they carried out their plan. The inmates concealed the firearm in their pants, ready for their escape.

Following the court proceedings, as the inmates were being escorted to a prison truck for their return to Harare Remand Prison, they made their move. Luke Zinyengere managed to escape, robbing a motor vehicle at gunpoint to aid his getaway. Marondera was apprehended outside the court fence as he attempted to flee towards Belvedere road.

Adding a further twist to the case, Madzinga was reportedly wearing Luke Zinyengere’s white Gucci jacket with a green stripe at the time of his arrest.

In a significant development, Zinyengere has since been re-arrested in Harare. He is now expected to face additional charges, including illegal possession of a firearm, unlawful escape from custody, and carjacking, stemming from his theft of a Mazda Demio outside the Harare Magistrates Court.

Zinyengere and Marondera were part of more than half a dozen suspects arrested in connection with the Quest Financial Services raid. In February last year, ZRP national spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi announced the arrest of Brighton Chikukwa (28), Silence Matambo (29), Washington Mangwanda (23), Liberty Mukanganise (31), Tafadzwa Richard Marondera (25) and Luke Zinyengere (28) in connection with the robbery.

The stolen loot included US$720,676.00, ZAR 10,500.00 and Euro 120.00 cash, as well as a 7.65 mm CZ Vzor pistol and three laptops.

Following their arrest, Tafadzwa Richard Marondera and Luke Zinyengere led detectives to the recovery of US$ 50,600.00 in cash. It was established that Tafadzwa Richard Marondera had received US$35,000 as his share of the loot, whilst Luke Zinyengere was given US$25,000.00.

The detectives also recovered a Mark X vehicle, registration number AFR 7059, which Luke Zinyengere had bought for US$11,000.00, an iPhone 14 Pro Max bought for US$ 1,300.00, and an iPhone 15 Pro Max bought for US$1,500.00, allegedly using the proceeds from the robbery.

Two security guards who were on duty at Quest Financial Services during the robbery have already been sentenced to 48 months in jail each for picking up some of the cash dropped by the robbers as they fled and failing to surrender it into evidence.

In June last year, Zinyengere and Marondera were back in the dock, facing fresh charges of robbing an iPhone cell phone dealer. The pair allegedly robbed Tinashe Kelvin Leon Chikove, a second-hand cell phone dealer at Ximex Mall, Harare, at gunpoint, stealing a range of iPhone models.