In a shocking breach of trust, a Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) officer, Energy Chivasa, has been sentenced to three months imprisonment for possession of illegal drugs and sex-enhancing pills.¹ The 29-year-old prison guard, stationed at Zvishavane Prisons, was caught red-handed during an impromptu search at the Khami Maximum Prison Complex exit gate on April 1.
The stash of illicit goods, valued at ZWG4 100, included unregistered tablets of ibuprofen, amoxicillin, and sex-enhancing pills, as well as syringes and needles. Chivasa’s defense was that he intended to start a business for his wife, but the court saw through his claims.
Magistrate Archie Wochiwunga handed down a stern sentence, suspending the three-month imprisonment on condition that Chivasa pays a US$250 fine by April 30, 2025. This case has raised alarming concerns about corruption within the law enforcement ranks and the potential risks to public health.
As the authorities grapple with the extent of this betrayal, one thing is clear: the integrity of Zimbabwe’s correctional services has been severely compromised. The question on everyone’s mind is: how far does this rot go?
