Bizarre prison swap offer leaves Mike Chimombe in shock… Stranger offers to spend the rest of his sentence so he gets freedom

Jailed businessman Mike Chimombe says he was stunned by the bizarre offer from a man who offered to serve the remainder of his 12-year jail term while he gets his freedom.

Now, he wants to meet him.

Lawrence Dhairo, 48, made the strange offer and Chimombe says he was shocked when he first heard about it.

“I am not related to Lawrence and I don’t know him, his offer stunned me,” Chimombe said.

“It shows that there are some people who appreciate our efforts in working for national development.

“I want to thank the government and ZPCS for the Family Week, where everyone is allowed to visit inmates.

“If Lawrence can come and see me, then I can hear his concerns.”

Chimombe added:

“His age shows that I am three years younger than him. He is my brother in terms of age difference.”

Dhairo recently made headlines after he offered to serve the remainder of Chimombe’s jail term.

Meanwhile, one of the 449 patients under the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) Psychiatric Unit, at least by yesterday, has been awaiting trial before a special tribunal prison board since 2008.

Nomore Murasiranwa, who was remanded in custody on murder charges, says he has lost hope of ever tasting justice, and freedom, and believes his stay in prison may be “for life”.

“I have been here since 2008 and I do not know if I will taste freedom. Even my relatives are no longer visiting me,” said Murasiranwa.

“I failed to pass three times when I appeared before the special board.

“Some of my relatives used to visit and end up getting frustrated with my case. I have come to believe that prison is now for life, without trial.”

Among the visitors was Apostle Stephen Mangwanya of New United Apostolic Faith church, who commended the Government for shifting from punishment to correction.

“I was impressed to see young children hugging and kissing their mother at the female prison,” said Apostle Mangwanya.

“To some, these are prison inmates but to their children they are innocent parents. That is so sweet.

“The Second Republic has taken God’s love seriously by opening prison gates for families to meet their mothers and fathers.”

Apostle Mangwanya said he brought church members to support inmates spiritually and with goodies for those who struggle to receive visitors.

“People must not neglect their relatives because they are convicts. Let us continue to live with them so that when they are released, they return to the same society,” he said.

Kenneth Tsinira, who travelled from Bulawayo with his wife, said they came to visit his cousin, Tatenda Farai (34), who has served 17 years for rape at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison.

“We are here to give hope to our brother that prison term ends.

“President Mnangagwa challenged us by pardoning a number of inmates through the amnesty and who are we not to forgive our brother for whatever he did wrong?

“We no longer feel ashamed to visit him any day.”

Other inmates who received visitors included Moses Mpofu, Rodwell Mutunya, Brian Mupaiki, and Jaison Muvhevhi.

The ZPCS Prison Family Week is expected to close on Sunday. *_-H-Metro_*