BEAUTY BEHIND BARS

Clive Thabo Dube

PRISONS or simply correctional institutions have little to offer on what one can gain from them and Chikurubi Maximum Prison in Zimbabwe is the worst of them all.

Inside the sewage flowing, water and food shortages, dirty torn prison gabs, ill treated inmates is Zimbabwe’s confinement and hell dome, Chikurubi Maximum Prison.

The fortress of the Female Prison resides a delight for eyes, a beauty clad in a green oversized dress with a red and white jersey who has stolen the hearts of many Zimbabweans. A young female foreigner who found herself on the wrong side of the law, has sent tongues waging on the media circles and societies at large due to her appetizing beauty which has crawled out of the four walls. A rare feat achieved by a non celebrity figure.

A Brazilian female has been languishing in this prison for sometime due to a fault by her legal representation.

Karoline Silver Mafra of Brazilian descent is in Chikurubi Maximum prison for drug trafficking yet records show that she must not be locked up.

Overshadowing the recently incarcerated Zimbabwe’s Socialite and comedienne Felistas Murata also known as Mai TT who was sentenced to the same institution for theft of trust property, the Brazilian has been showcased by Mai TT.

The incarcerated Mai TT who somehow got hold of a cellphone and filmed the inside one of the country’s protected areas posted a video of herself and other inmates singing in what appeared to be a party for the female prisoners.

The light skinned lady in question is Karoline Silver Mafra.

Unconfirmed records state that the woman was acquitted of drug trafficking last year July but is still behind bars as she has no documents to return to her home country. It is believed, her legal representative misplaced her passport and she is financially stricken.

Social media went into a frenzy the moment the video went viral online and many subscribers’ hearts melted as they were stroke by her smile. Many called for her release, with some further offering financial support.

Reports suggest that Mafra’s life took an unexpected turn in 2022 when she was arrested at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport for allegedly being in possession of cocaine and heroin estimated to be valued at ZWL$1, 932, 000. The Brazilian was then convicted of unlawfully dealing with dangerous drugs and sentenced to seven years in prison. She and her accomplices Patience Murinda and Siegfried Zibusiso Ndlovu were later acquitted of the crime.

Those who have had the pleasure of sharing a room with Mafra describe her as a kind hearted soul and a fluent Shona speaker who is a mother to a seven year old son who currently lives in Brazil.

Behind all the beauty and smile, Karoline has an untold story and her case reflects vividly how Zimbabwe’s prisons and law system fails foreigners. The country can simply deport the foreigner back to their home like any other country. Keeping none Zimbabwean citizens jailbirds who fail to return back home due to circumstances beyond their control is uncalled for. It’s inhumane at the very least.

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