Six Zimbabweans linked to a series of murder, armed robbery and housebreaking cases escaped from the Musina police cells, police have said.

The police spokesperson for Limpopo Province, Lieutenant Mohale Ramatseba, said the prisoners escaped from Musina Police Station on Monday, October 4, at around 01:00 after sawing through iron cell bars. “Six Zimbabweans, four awaiting-trial prisoners and two convicted prisoners escaped from the Musina police cells on Monday morning after they sawed through the iron cell bars. As police we don’t know how they got the saw, but we are still investigating,” he said.

Knowledge Muleya (28) was sentenced to five years imprisonment for possession of an unlicensed firearm and Chiwari Matimore (23) was given three years for housebreaking and theft.

The awaiting-trial prisoners are Brighton Chauke (26), facing a murder charge, Platford Moyo ( 26), armed robbery, Ledison Chide (24), armed robbery and Witness Tende (24), housebreaking and theft.

“The suspects are still at large and we are appealing to anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects to contact Captain Sydney Ringani on 082-729-1093 or 08600-10111,” said the police spokesperson.

Meanwhile, the acting officer commanding the Zimbabwean police in Beit Bridge District, Superintendent Conrad Manhai, also confirmed the incident, saying they had since launched a joint manhunt for the suspects with their South African counterparts.

The suspects are believed to have crossed back to Zimbabwe through illegal crossing points.