Mugabe firebrand Patrick Chinamasa seems to have painted himself into a corner.

And will, no doubt, somehow wriggle his way free, somehow leaving indelible marks on all and sundry - walking away as fresh as a daisy.

The South African Broadcasting Corporation recently aired secret camera footage taken, they say, within Zimbabwe’s prisons. And the scenes we saw… well, let’s just say that you would need a strong stomach to watch it.

Chinamasa was quick on the uptake and promptly issued a statement denying that the footage was from Zimbabwean jails, He said that the footage comes from other African jails, but not Zimbabwean.

Just a few days later we read that three prison warders have been arrested under the instruction of Chinamasa (who masquerades as the Minister of Justice) as they had contravened the Official Secrets Act by assisting the SABC in their pursuit of cinematic proof.

Now - and I do think that my powers of reasoning and logic are reasonable sound - the two stories together mae a nonsense out of one or the other.

If the footage were from another African country, then there would be no need for the arrests. If the arrests are warranted, then the denial is a work of fiction.

Recently we have read interviews with MDC Deputy Minister for Agriculture designate, Roy Bennett, who told the world of the disgusting state of affairs in the other side of the bars. Bennett told the world how an inmate that had died was left in the cell that he shared with others for days on end.

(Mugabe refuses to swear Bennett into cabinet as he says the individual is facing ‘serious’ charges - since when was it the job of the President to stand in judgement over anyone?)

Former prison warder, Shepherd Yuda (an assumed name to protect his identity) told how warders were forced to vote for ZANU PF - or lose their jobs and possibly end up on the wrong side of the bars.

A former prisoner, George Nyathi (another assumed name for the same reason), also told his story of life behind bars.

He told reporters that prisoners undergo no reform whilst in custody, are starved and do not have adequate clothing or blankets. He also tells us that prisoners were beaten and tortured by warders as a matter of course.

I am sure that more stories will come to light in the next month or so as people gather the bravery needed to air their stories.

Jails in Zimbabwe were disgusting 25 years ago when I was in the Zimbabwe Republic Police - as a prosecutor and an officer I had to make repeated visits to Bulawayo Remand and Khami Prison - and back then they were filthy institutions and in dire need of a lick of paint and a clean.

But at least prisoners were fed and clothed and there was transport to cart them to court and back.

All of this seems to have fallen by the wayside. It is said that people are sent to jail as punishment, not to be punished.

In Zimbabwe, prisoners are treated as a necessary evil - and have no rights whatsoever.

Chinamasa has chosen the route of denial - only to be proved wrong within days. And his punishment? There isn’t any…

Mugabe prefers to live behind a plethora of lies, lies and more lies… and gets away with it.

Robb WJ Ellis
The Bearded Man