Harare - The death toll from a prison riot in Harare has risen to three, the state Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation reported on Saturday.
Up to 900 prisoners rioted on Friday over poor food in the Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison on the outskirts of the capital.
Soldiers, mounted police and fire services were called in.
There were claims that police opened fire on the protesters, but authorities said only blanks were used.
ZBC said in an update on its website that three inmates had died “following injuries sustained during the rioting.”
An earlier report said only one person had died in a stampede.
“The maximum prison on Friday the 13th of March 2015 turned out to be a real horror set,” the state broadcaster said.
Two prison officers are still being treated in a private hospital in Harare.
A group of five inmates is reported to have started the riot by burning their blankets.
ZBC's acting editor-in-chief Chris Chivinge said in a tweet that several inmates had also been arrested.
Chivinge said the rioting was put down “without much incident”.
The condition of a further six inmates reported to have been seriously injured is not known.
Sapa