Bulawayo Regional Magistrate Taurai Manuwere acquitted ZPCS officer Yusufu Yusufu on Thursday after ruling the state failed to prove he helped convicted rapist Mike Cabangani Mathe escape from Plumtree Prison. The court found the prosecution’s case relied on an unreliable accomplice witness whose testimony lacked independent corroboration.
The acquittal ends a legal battle centered on a November 15 jailbreak that saw a high-profile prisoner flee across international borders. Yusufu, 47, had been accused of supplying the tools necessary for the escape, but the court ultimately determined that the evidence against him was not credible.
The Failed Case Against Yusufu
The prosecution’s narrative rested heavily on the testimony of the escapee, Mike Cabangani Mathe. However, Magistrate Manuwere dismissed Mathe as a credible witness, citing a complete lack of documentary evidence to support his claims. Specifically, Mathe alleged he had lent the accused US$2,000, yet he could provide no proof of the transaction.
“Mathe told this court he had lent the accused US$2 000 but when he was asked to produce documentary proof to show that he had indeed lent him money he failed, and when he was asked to call a witness to testify on his behalf to corroborate his evidence, he again failed. He told this court that he did not want to put their lives in danger,”
Bulawayo Court Acquits ZPCS Officer Accused of Helping Mike Cabangani Mathe Escape
Mr Taurai Manuwere, Bulawayo Regional Magistrate
Beyond the financial claims, the court identified a glaring inconsistency regarding prison communications. While Mathe claimed he was prohibited from using the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) official mobile phone, Superintendent Bhekumuzi Khanye testified that the inmate was actually permitted to use the phone to communicate with his wife.
This discrepancy, paired with Yusufu’s professional reputation, led the magistrate to consider an alternative theory: that the officer was being framed. The court noted that Yusufu was known for being strict and adhering to procedural standards, which suggested he may have been a target for other officers.
“The accused is known for being somebody who is strict and does not tolerate anything that compromises his work. As such, there is a probability that the accomplice witness could have acted in connivance with another prison officer so as to fix the accused,”
Mr Taurai Manuwere, Bulawayo Regional Magistrate
The November 15 Jailbreak and Malawi Flight
The events leading to the trial began at approximately 2 a.m. on November 15 of last year. According to prosecutor Mufaro Ndirayire, Mathe, who was serving a 20-year prison sentence at Plumtree Prison under prison number 25625, cut through the burglar bars of his holding cell window to escape.
The state alleged that Yusufu provided the two hacksaw blades used in the breach. While these blades were recovered from the prison and intended for use as exhibits during the trial, the court found the link to Yusufu insufficient for a conviction.
At the time of his escape, Mathe was serving his 20-year sentence for rape and was facing additional charges for murder, physical abuse, and having sexual intercourse with a young person. Following the breakout, he allegedly crossed into Malawi, where he attempted to evade capture by disguising himself as a street vendor.
Capture and Sentencing of Mike Cabangani Mathe
Mathe’s time as a fugitive ended when Malawian authorities arrested him for entering the country illegally and failing to produce valid identification documents. He was deported back to Zimbabwe on February 24.
Upon arrival at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, he was immediately apprehended by Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Homicide detectives. His legal troubles continued before Bulawayo Regional Magistrate Mathew Mutiro, who convicted him of escaping from lawful custody.
Mathe received an additional six years’ imprisonment for the escape, adding to his existing 20-year sentence. While the inmate remains imprisoned, the officer accused of facilitating his flight has been cleared of all charges.
