HARARE – Jailed rapist Munyaradzi Kereke was allowed home visits for regular sex romps with his wife, a court heard on Monday.

The stunning claims were made by lawyers for three former prison guards accused of using prisoner labour for a private chicken rearing project, and pocketing the proceeds.

Kereke, a former adviser to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, was jailed in 2016 for raping his 11-year-old niece. The businessman owns a private hospital in Harare and also has shares in various companies including Doves Funeral Services. He has maintained a decent lifestyle in prison using his financial resources and influence.

Former Chikurubi Maximum Prison officer-in-charge Nobert Chomurenga, his former deputy Tonderai Mutiwaringa and the former head of security Cephas Chiparausha all deny charges of concealing a transaction from a principal.

Instead, the trio told the Harare Magistrates Court that Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services Commissioner General Paradzai Zimondi was fully aware of the project after previously advising them to seek out Kereke’s advice on finance, economic planning as well as improving prisoner welfare.

They said Kereke had, as a result of that arrangement, introduced them to an organisation called Humanity Earth Trust which provided 3,000 chicks, feed, medicines and sanitary requirements for the poultry project between September 25, 2017 to August 2018.

Because of Kereke’s expertise provided to prison authorities over a wide range of issues, Chomurenga, Mutiwaringa and Chiparausha said he was accorded many favours including being excused from manual labour as well as being allowed home visits to enjoy a nice time with his wife and meet his family.

They said they were only arrested after Zimondi fell out with Kereke.

“The Commissioner General was fully briefed and was aware of the poultry project between Chikurubi Maximum Prison and Humanity Earth Trust. He was personally aware of the project as he visited and inspected the project when he toured Chikurubi Maximum Prison on several occasions when accused one (Chomurenga) was officer-in-charge and officer commanding Harare Metropolitan Province,” the men said in their defence.

“The poultry project was a brainchild of the Commissioner General and Humanity Earth Africa Trust and through Munyaradzi Kereke as Kereke assisted Zimbabwe Prisons Service Commission with various projects.”

The trio were removed from their positions and arrested after allegations of Kereke’s favourable treatment surfaced, leading to an internal inquiry.