Infamous RoyMukobeko Maximum Prison in Kabwe is the place where most people that have been convicted of committing heinous crimes are sent. It is notoriously known to house people serving long sentences for armed robbery , murder, rape and serial killings. There is also Mukobeko Minimum for those serving less than five years. The maximum is for the condemned.
The name Mukobeko literally means the hangman’s noose or noose or simply a place where the condemned are executed by hanging.
Mukobeko has always been a fortress,the gates are always secured with armed sentries ready to shoot for any sign of escape. It is not easy to escape as most of the people who tried are quickly neutralized, apprehended or shot at during the manhunt.The easiest way to escape Mukobeko is through the three main gates,that is if you can manage to neutralize the sharp shooting sentries on guard twenty four seven. All gates are manned with armed guards.
However the events of Saturday 1st July 1973 created panic,fear and mayhem for the citizens of Kabwe and Kapiri Mposhi when they heard that some convicts have escaped.
Criminal mastermind, Roy Mudenda (31) , a Zambian from Namwala was serving twenty years for aggravated robbery. He arrived at Mukobeko with no intention of being shackled to be a resident of the notorious prison.
By the time he was going to come out, he was going to be old in his fifties watching all the beautiful exciting years pass in a cage. He was in his prime and did not wish that to happen to him.
What is also not clear is wether, truly his real name was Mudenda or perhaps he just used an alias. The details in the prison reports address him as Roy Mudenda (31) of Siangane District, Zaire ( Congo DR)Mudenda described by most people as an evil, ugly, hippo-like psychopath was a very daring criminal.
He initiated two Zaireans ( Congolese) Dennione Kamunga (21) of Mbakwachilewi Cholebo, Kibanda in Zaire ( DR Congo) was serving 20 years for aggravated robbery.Kamunga must have regretted being given a maximum sentence when he was barely out of his teens. That’s like taking away your whole life.
And Alexander Kabongo ( 27) of Kaseke Village, Kabemba, Zaire (DR Congo ) sentenced to 15 years for aggravated robbery. Kabongo had just got in prison. Given a maximum sentence in a foreign country is a death sentence itself.
Mudenda and his accomplices schemed and planned to escape but were looking for a window of opportunity to make the break. The problem with a place like Mukobeko and prisons of that sort is that violence is rampant. There is always someone who wants to harm you or you wanting to harm someone.
The prisoners on death row are restricted to places where they are confined, however those serving with hard labour, are part of the general population and are always supervised and used to do manual work.
The idea of prison is to reform the convicted and where possible give them skills to help them develop when they are released. However, there are some criminals like Roy Mudenda who are hard boiled and can not be tamed.
It’s difficult especially for the newbies who are called ‘ba Kembo” to settle freely unless they are under someone’s protection. As for Mudenda, he belonged to a group called Mambo, the perpetual offenders who have tasted prison before and getting arrested is like making a home run.
Prison is the only place where you have a lot of time on your hands, especially if you are serving twenty years.
So it was easy for Mudenda and accomplices to observe and scheme their next move on how to get out of there, they wanted a chance of escape and the heavily guarded gate was the only way out.
They took time to study the security shifts and routine at the prison. They knew when security was very tight and when it relaxed. They checked the calendar of events and obviously bought information about what was happening where, when and with who.
On this particular day, 1st July 1973, there was a football tournament for inmates Mukobeko Maximum Prison versus Mukobeko Minimum Prison. Most of the prison warders naturally were on the lookout for the bigger crowd cheering the teams.So while everyone was cheering and betting on their favorite team, Mudenda, Kamunga and Kabongo were scheming of using the opportunity to get out.
According to Great Chitala (35) a convict who was serving twenty five years for fraud, forgery and robbery, he said while the football match was on going, a prisoner called Brian Mambwe approached the first gate holding some bedsheets.There are three gates in Mukobeko before you reach the prison yard. However you can see all the three from the football field.Chitala’s vantage point was that he was watching the goal post when he saw commotion at the gate.
The gatekeeper Corp. Axson Chingobe was coming from the second gate asking prisoner Bruce Mambwe why he was late. Brice answered that he was not the one on duty. As Chingobe opened the gate, from nowhere Mudenda gave a signal and Kabongo Jumped the warder grabbing him by the neck. The warder tried to scream as the convicts overpowered him.
Mudenda took out from his jumper a huge ugly blade made in the blacksmith’s workshop and with all the cruelty drives it in Warder Chingobe’s chest watching the blood spill out and left him bleeding on the floor.
They grab the keys from his belt and Kabongo locks the gate.
All the three prisoners run towards the second gate to the armoury to get guns.Chitala starts shouting for help.Prisoners and warders near the kitchen climb the alarm tower. Before Chitala rang the alarm he looks down and sees the three prisoners coming with guns.
Mudenda fires at the the people trying to get to the alarm watch tower. They all scamper running in different directions. Mudenda shoots at Chitala.
Chitala rans down to go and help Chingobe at the gate while Mudenda and his accomplices continued shooting.The football match was disturbed, all people disappeared in different directions for dear life.
Corporal Alfred Mubita worked the shift from 06:00hrs and was about to knock off waiting for someone to change shift with when he heard the first shots around 13:30 hrs.. He was climbing upstairs to the tower and saw prisoners screaming and shouting.
He noticed Chitala was holding Chingobe’s arm. Chingobe had a big patch of blood on his chest as blood poured out even from his mouth.Mubita runs to open the gate. Helps Chitala take Chingobe in the Chief Officer’s office. Chingobe had stopped breathing when they reached there.
Mubita rans up the tower and starts sounding the alarm. He hears a shot, sees Mudenda aiming at him. His felt his body go numb and falls to the ground. Another shot rings out.
Mubota has blood coming out of his shoulder.
Chitala pulls Mubita by the leg off the steps to where prisoners line up for cigarettes. Prisoner warders had locked themselves in fear of the shots.
All he could see were feet hidden under tables.Mubita was shot on the collarbone.
Mudenda , Kabongo and Kamunga manage to get three shoguns and twenty rounds of ammunition.
While Mudenda and Kabongo were shooting, Kamunga rushed to a parked Land Rover and starts the engine.
The prisoners dash outside to a parked prison Land Rover as the driver runs away. They drive off speeding at breakneck speed.
The fugitives aimed to drive in the direction of Ndola hoping to cross in Zaire ( the Congo).
Never before has any criminal been so daring in escaping from Mukobeko. Kabwe Police Chief John Chongo gave a news alert warning residents that the three fugitives were armed and dangerous heading north.
Police set patrol traps as detectives tried to figure out how to block the fugitives.Homes were searched and a mini curfew imposed in some areas of Kabwe and Kapiri Mposhi during the manhunt.
The fugitives manage to make it out of Kabwe , their plan was confounded as they spot a routine roadblock about thirty two kilometers out of Kapiri to Ndola They decide to ram into it threatening the police officer at a very high speed.
Noticing this, the police give a chase as one of them had a private car, the fugitives increased the gas on the pedal. The prison Land Rover swerves off the road and overturns. The trio are unscathed, save for minor insignificant injuries.
By the time the police were coming, to the Land Rover, the trio had disappeared in the bushes with the three firearms and the twenty rounds of ammunition.
The cold July weather was not kind to the fugitives who were dressed in prison uniforms of shorts and short sleeve shirts. Hunger and thirst forced the fugitives to look for food and warmth. Their plan was to find a settlement get food, blankets, maybe even a vehicle and get rid of the prison uniforms then hit the road.
Police Commissioner Fabian Chela, renewed his appeal in tracking the three killers. Police called in for reinforcements comprising extra police and paramilitary from Lusaka’ . They wanted to comb all the farms. The road to Mkushi was completely sealed and blocked.Military cars and helicopters were combing every inch
After being on the run for four days,on 5th July 1973, around 03 hours in morning in Chipungu Rail Sidin of Kapiri Mposhi, The fugitives attack Mr Futabola Musonda a Zambia Railway worker.They threaten him by firing several gunshots in the air then rob him of K100 ( which was a lot of money). They stripped him of his gray suit and white shirt.
Mudenda and crew fired gunshots in the air in case they were being followed.
The shaken victim later calls the police happy that he survived.
Police found empty cartridges and two live bullets when they showed up
The ruling United National Independence Party (UNIP ) urged all it’s vigilantes to be on the lookout for the fugitives who were classified armed and dangerous.
The challenge of transport and manoeuvering in an unfamiliar area made it difficult for the fugitives to hide.Police warned people to look out for anyone wearing a charcoal gray suit stolen from Mr Musonda who may be trying to buy food.
Within twenty four hours the police were tipped off about two suspicious looking characters wandering In the farming area.
Mudenda split from the team.It is likely that he got the K100 and threatened his colleagues. He got all the three firearms.
Kabongo and Kamunga tired , hungry and in desperate search for food decide to find villages.
On the way they find a cassava garden. They dig out the roots and eat the roots mercilessly.
Raw cassava can be toxic, it contains cyanogenic glycosides, which can release cyanide in the body. These compounds are toxic and can lead to cyanide poisoning, potentially causing severe health problems or even death.
Kabongo and Kamunga ate a lot and got themselves poisoned and immobilized. Some people spotted them in the agony and reported to the police.
The two were captured between two farms.They offered no resistance. The fire arms were missing. Police suspected Mudenda to have taken them.
Kamunga was wearing a shirt and trousers belonging to Mr Futabola Musonda while Kabongo was still in his prison uniform.Kamunga had to be lifted up as the cassava poisoning had taken it’s toll.The police thanked the public for working with them.
Roy Mudenda was still at large. The arrest pleased the State and President Kenneth Kaunda congratullated the Police saying people can now have confidence in the force.
The police had a tough time locating Mudenda.
There was a huge crowd in Kabwe when the two prisoners, Kabongo and Kamunga were brought to court. People started demanding the two captured fugitives be executed immediately on the spot. It took a lot of effort for police to control the crowd.
UNIP Women’s league chairperson Mrs Chibesa Kankasa representing women’s affairs urged government to execute publicly criminals convicted of murder.
Magistrate Krishnapllai Vaikunithvassan ordered that the two fugitives go under medical examinations. They looked very sick and tired.
The two were charged with armed robbery, escape from lawful custody and murder.Kamunga was failing to stand in court,and could not walk to the dock to take a plea. Kabongo pleaded not guilty on his behalf.
After ten days, police get a report from a farmer Mr Yeta Musamba about a suspicious character asking about Roy Mudenda.The farmer explained that after the two were captured.
A stranger wearing shorts and a skipper approached him asking about the escapees as he was reading a newspaper.Mr Yeta informed the stranger that two were captured.”What about Roy Mudenda, did they say anything?” Stranger asked.”He is still at large”. Mr Yeta replied.After the stranger left Mr Yeta drove to Kabwe Police. They searched the area and recovered two guns.
Roy Mudenda had trekked to Ndola in Kabushi. He ran to his sister Elizabeth Mudenda Michelo’s house. He tells her husband that he just escaped and was looking for money to go home. They were keeping two other people who they told not to sell out information about Mudenda.Mudenda was tired and hungry.
The Times Zambia published Roy Mudenda ‘s picture after another prisoner Frank Kalulu a soldier serving 18 months escaped from a working a working party. Kalulu was apprehended in Chindwin Barracks the next day.
An expatriate who was neighbours with Mudenda’s sister tipped the police in Kabushi Ndola about the fugitive.
Police and paramilitary armed to the teeth burst in the house in Kabushi and found Mudenda sleeping. He was arrested with no resistance.
Magistrate Krishnapllai Vaikunithvassan sentenced each one of the men to five years in prison. Two years for running away from.lawful custody and three years for aggravated robbery against Mr Futabola Mutale. He then committed the murder charge to the high Court.
In the same year on 27th November 1973, Judge Annel Silungwe found the trio with a case to answer.
They gave their defense and on 17 November 1973 Judge Annel Silungwe passed judgement…all three for a death sentence.Mudenda, Kamunga and Kabongo all looked solemn and detached as they were taken away.”
The three knew in their hearts that they were responsible for the death in Warder Axson Chingobe and yet painted a picture of Innocence. It is clear that Mudenda played a leading role in the execution of the escape , in that he stabbed Mr Chingobe and drove a waiting Land Rover in bid for freedom. All three were principle offenders, they formed an alliance for their escape and consequently although the leader was Mudenda, each of them was deemed to have committed the capital offence”. The judge said.
Mudenda appealed against the capital sentence , but in 1974 the supreme court threw out his appeal. Roy Mudenda and the two Zaireans ( Congolese ) Danuine Kamunga and Alexander Kabongo were found guilty of murdering a Mukobeko Maximum Prison Warder in their bid to escape.
The Supreme Court ruled that the trio were all principal offenders. The court upheld an earlier decision by then Judge Mr Annel Silungwe who in 1974 became Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General and years later became Chief Justice. Actually he was the last chief Justice in the Kaunda regime.
The court ruled that Mudenda and his accomplices must have known that it was necessary to kill or inflict grevious bodily harm in the course of the escape. Their action and attack was that of desperate men who had to act fast and had nothing to lose.
Mudenda, Kamunga and Kabongo were hanged at Mukobeko Maximum Prison.
The nation speculated and gave all sorts of versions on how he was killed.
By Angel Phiri
Sources: Times of Zambia, Eugene Makayi
Credit: Mushala Lion of the Lunga Movie Page