[3][4] Chidhumo and Masendeke met at Mutimurefu Remand Prison in Masvingo in 1995 where each was serving a 16 year imprisonment sentence.
The fugitives fled to Mozambique from where they launched a series of armed raids in Manicaland and Masvingo provinces for two years.
In 1997, after two years on the run committing horrific crimes, Chidhumo was caught and arrested in Mozambique, Masendeke escaped.
In August 1997, Chidhumo, however, managed to escape from Chikurubi Maximum Prison where he had been jailed and re-joined Masendeke in Mozambique.
The duo’s search captured headlines in Zimbabwe on national television, radio and newspapers with the police seeking assistance from anyone who would have known the whereabouts of Chidhumo and Masendeke.
A month later, Chidhumo was re-arrested in Mutare and was sentenced to time at Mutimurefu Prison where he met Masendeke.
On 18 August 1997, Chidhumo escaped from Chikurubi along with three others – an ex-policeman Pedzisai Musariri, an ex-soldier Elias Chauke and Mariko Ngulube.
His father, Timothy Masendeke, who was an entrepreneur with grocery shops in Gutu and Kwekwe is said to have been abusive often beating up his children.
At one point Masendeke accused his uncle of selling him out to the police and severely assaulted him and shot at his finger.
At age 23, Masendeke pleaded guilty to 38 charges ranging from rape to murder and was sentenced to death.