HARARE – In a stark reminder of the pervasive challenges within Zimbabwe’s correctional facilities, prominent businessmen and convicted fraudsters Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu were reportedly subjected to severe beatings by prison guards at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison. The incident, which occurred on a Wednesday in mid-February 2026, unfolded after the duo was caught in possession of smuggled mobile phones within their cells, igniting a fresh wave of scrutiny into prison security and the integrity of its officers.
The dramatic events at Chikurubi have cast a harsh light on the shadowy world of contraband within prison walls, exposing not only the desperation of inmates to maintain contact with the outside world but also the alleged complicity of those tasked with upholding the law. The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) has since taken swift action, dismissing several officers implicated in the smuggling ring, yet the incident leaves lingering questions about systemic failures and the true extent of corruption.
The Unravelling of a Digital Lifeline
The discovery of the illicit mobile phones was not a random occurrence but the result of a targeted monitoring operation. Prison authorities had been tracking the social media activities of Chimombe and Mpofu, who were known to be communicating with individuals beyond the prison confines. Their online presence, particularly their WhatsApp activity and Facebook online status, which is indicated by a tell-tale green light, ultimately betrayed their clandestine operations.
It was when Moses Mpofu, serving a 15-year effective sentence for his role in a multi-million-dollar fraud, appeared online that prison officers launched their raid. A team of guards descended upon his cell, where an iPhone mobile phone was swiftly recovered. What followed was a brutal interrogation, with Mpofu reportedly enduring a severe beating until he divulged crucial information: his fellow inmate and business associate, Mike Chimombe, also possessed a mobile phone. More damningly, Mpofu named the prison officers who allegedly facilitated this illicit trade, reportedly holding onto the phones during the day and returning them to the prisoners at night when they were locked in their cells.
The Presidential Goat Scheme: A Legacy of Fraud
Mike Chimombe, a former President of the Affirmative Action Group (AAG) and a one-time indigenisation secretary for the ZANU PF Youth League, and Moses Mpofu, a businessman linked to 4-May Investments, are no strangers to controversy. Their incarceration stems from their conviction in the infamous Presidential Goat Pass-On Scheme fraud. This elaborate scheme saw them defraud the State of millions of US dollars, with various reports citing figures ranging from US$7 million to US$87 million for the contract, and US$7 million or US$40 million allegedly paid out.
The fraud involved a tender to supply 600,000 goats, a programme intended to benefit Zimbabwe’s poorest families. However, Chimombe and Mpofu were accused of forging documents to secure the lucrative contract. Instead of delivering the promised livestock, the State claims they diverted the funds for personal enrichment, acquiring luxury cars and properties.
Justice Pisirayi Kwenda presided over their case, handing down substantial sentences. Moses Mpofu received a 22-year prison term, with eight years suspended, leaving him with an effective 15 years behind bars. Mike Chimombe was sentenced to 17 years, with five years suspended, resulting in an effective 12-year jail term. Both men have since lodged appeals against their convictions and sentences, a process that this latest prison incident is unlikely to influence, as it pertains to prison conduct rather than the merits of their original case.
In a moment of apparent contrition during his trial, Moses Mpofu was quoted as saying, “I am sorry, the goat deal did not go as planned”. This apology, reportedly directed at President Emmerson Mnangagwa, offered a glimpse into the high-stakes political and financial circles in which the duo operated.
Chikurubi’s Crumbling Walls: A Breeding Ground for Contraband
The incident involving Chimombe and Mpofu is not an isolated event but rather a symptom of deeper, systemic issues plaguing Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison. The institution, designed to hold approximately 1,300 inmates, is notoriously overcrowded, often housing over 2,500 prisoners. Cells originally intended for 16 individuals frequently accommodate up to 40, leading to inhumane conditions. A parliamentary report in October 2025 highlighted that some correctional facilities in Zimbabwe were operating at up to 300 percent capacity, with the national prisoner population reaching 22,878 by the end of 2024.
Beyond overcrowding, Chikurubi is described as “crumbling at the seams,” grappling with persistent shortages of water and electricity, and dire sanitation. Inmates have reported sleeping “10cm apart,” making social distancing impossible, even during health crises. These conditions contribute to a high prevalence of diseases, including tuberculosis.
Such an environment inevitably fosters corruption. The smuggling of drugs and mobile phones by warders has transformed Zimbabwe’s prisons into “hotbeds of corruption”. Prison officers are known to “cash-in” on the desperation of inmates, charging exorbitant fees for illicit services and contraband. Recent years have seen numerous reports and arrests of ZPCS officers for similar offences. For instance, in 2024, a prison officer named Santigie Dumbuya was charged for trafficking dangerous drugs, and in 2025, Donald Madzinga was accused of accepting a US$500 bribe to smuggle contraband.
A senior prisons source, speaking to Nehanda Radio, underscored the gravity of such breaches: “Prison security breaches are treated as serious disciplinary and, in some cases, criminal matters because they undermine institutional control, safety, and the integrity of custodial sentences”. The source further explained that unauthorised communication facilitated by mobile phones can lead to further crimes, witness interference, corruption, or compromise security operations. When contraband is discovered, internal investigations are launched to determine how the breach occurred, whether staff were complicit, and if inmates violated regulations. Sanctions for inmates can include solitary confinement, loss of privileges, withdrawal of remission, or additional criminal charges.
The Aftermath: Dismissals and Potential Further Penalties
The immediate aftermath of the Chikurubi incident saw the implicated prison officers detained. Their living quarters within the prison compound were searched, leading to the recovery of iPhone chargers, which were reportedly used to power the smuggled mobile phones during the day. A disciplinary tribunal was convened swiftly, and by the following Friday, the officers were found guilty of misconduct and subsequently dismissed from the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service.
For Chimombe and Mpofu, the consequences extend beyond the physical beatings. The ZPCS, under the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, is now reportedly in discussions with relevant authorities to consider withdrawing the remission that had been granted to the two inmates. Remission, a reduction in sentence granted for good behaviour and compliance with prison regulations, is a significant privilege, and its withdrawal would mean they serve their full, lengthy sentences. Furthermore, the prison service is meticulously studying the communications made by the two prisoners to ascertain if further crimes were committed, potentially leading to additional charges.
This incident serves as a stark reminder that even behind the seemingly impenetrable walls of a maximum-security prison, the battle against corruption and the struggle for control are ongoing. The case of Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu, once powerful figures, now beaten and facing extended sentences, highlights the precarious nature of privilege within the correctional system and the relentless efforts required to maintain order and justice.
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