Zimbabweans in mass jail-break in Botswana

By Tichaona Sibanda

17 January 2006

Ten Zimbabwean prisoners last week escaped from a central prison in Gaborone, Botswana in a mass jail break that has left authorities there dumbfounded.

The men, who are accused of crimes ranging from murder and rape, car theft to armed robberies, managed to escape by tying blankets together and climbing out of the prison window after breaking the iron bars.

Don Mafingenyi our correspondent in Botswana said the jail break has aggravated tension between Zimbabweans and Tswanas in that country.

‘The jail break has come at a worse time when Zimbabweans were trying to normalise their strained relationship with authorities here. It has made things worse and people are having their work and resident permits being withdrawn by authorities in Botswana as a result,’ said Mafingenyi.

One of the prisoners, said Mafingenyi, was later recaptured and the search for the other fugitives is continuing in a massive operation, that has seen the authorities bring in helicopters and fixed wing light aircraft. Police have set up road blocks on highways leading to and from Gaborone.

‘What we have now is a dangerous situation were authorities here look at every Zimbabwean as a fugitive, a thief or a murderer.

What makes it more complicated is the fact that relations between the governments of Botswana and Zimbabwe are not that good these days for anyone to offer some sympathy to most of those caught up in the mess,’ said Mafingenyi.

It is believed the prison escapees could have made their way to South Africa or that they are laying low before making their escape to either Zambia or Namibia, countries considered safer than going back to Zimbabwe were if caught could face extradiction back to Botswana.