Zimbabwe prison set alight by inmates over poor food
Harare – At least one prisoner was killed and 23 prisoners were injured, seven of them seriously, during a three-hour long riot at a maximum security jail in Harare, media reported on Friday.
The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) TV said on its late evening news bulletin that prison guards “were forced to use firearms to control the situation” at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison on the outskirts of the Zimbabwean capital.
Three prison officers were also reported injured.
The Herald newspaper said in an online update that “nearly 900” prisoners were involved in the riot, which began as a demonstration for better food.
“One prisoner died during the riot which lasted for more than three hours with the prisoners burning blankets and destroying window panes at the maximum [security] prison,” said the Herald.
The officers were understood to have been injured by asbestos flung at them by inmates.
A group of five inmates is reported to have started the riot by burning their blankets.
Earlier, ZBC’s acting editor-in-chief Chris Chivinge said in a tweet that several inmates had also been arrested.
Chivinge said the rioting was put down “without much incident”.
Investigations are still underway.
– SAPA
