Reports from Nehanda Radio indicate that a security incident at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison has triggered serious concerns and an internal investigation within the correctional system.
According to the report, inmates Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu were allegedly confronted by prison authorities on Wednesday after mobile phones were discovered inside their cells. The discovery followed increased monitoring after suspicions emerged that the two prisoners were communicating with individuals outside the facility through social media platforms.
Sources say prison officials had been tracking activity believed to be linked to the inmates’ WhatsApp and Facebook usage. When activity was reportedly detected from inside the prison, officers conducted a search operation within the section where the inmates were being held.
During the search, authorities allegedly found a smartphone in Moses Mpofu’s possession. The discovery prompted further questioning and a wider investigation into how the devices entered the high-security facility.
Reports claim that during the process, Mpofu disclosed information suggesting that another phone was also being used by fellow inmate Mike Chimombe. The information also reportedly pointed to possible internal assistance within the prison that may have enabled the devices to be kept and returned to inmates at certain times.
The allegations have raised serious questions about security procedures at one of Zimbabwe’s most secure correctional institutions. Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison houses some of the country’s most high-profile and serious offenders, and strict rules prohibit the possession of communication devices by inmates.
Authorities are expected to investigate how the phones entered the facility, whether any prison staff were involved, and if additional disciplinary or legal action will be taken.
The incident has also sparked wider debate about prison security, corruption risks, and the challenges correctional services face in preventing unauthorized communication between inmates and the outside world.
More details are expected to emerge as officials review the situation and determine the next steps.
