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Zvamaida Murwira
Senior Reporter
MORE than 300 prison inmates have been equipped with agro and industrial skills in the past 100 days as the transformation of prisons from punitive to rehabilitation institutions as introduced by the Second Republic continues to bear fruit.
This was said by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister at yesterday’s post-Cabinet media briefing.
Dr Muswere said Cabinet received and noted reports on progress made in the implementation of priority projects for the second 100-day cycle of 2024 as presented by Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, and National Housing and Social Amenities Minister Zhemu Soda.
“The Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Honourable Ziyambi Ziyambi highlighted the following achievements for projects under his purview: regarding rehabilitation and reintegration, 112 inmates at Anju Prison in Matabeleland North Province have acquired various skills in the brick processing industry, while 80 inmates have been capacitated on seeding and transplanting of various crops.
“At Mazowe Prison in Mashonaland Central Province, 20 inmates acquired skills in the interpretation of plans, foundation works and brick laying, while 50 inmates were capacitated in seeding and transplanting of cabbages and onions,” said Dr Muswere.
“At Mutimurefu Prison in Masvingo Province, inmates were successfully capacitated with agro-based skills, inmates benefited from agro-based skills at the 40-hectare wheat crop under the centre pivot irrigation facility at Hurungwe Prison in Mashonaland West Province, the Chiredzi new magistrate court complex is now 98 percent complete, while the Gwanda New Court complex is 63 percent complete.
“The Mtawatawa New Magistrate Court is at 70 percent completion, while the testing of the Integrated Electronic Case Management System is ongoing.”
Dr Muswere said Minister Soda highlighted several achievements for projects under his purview, that include construction of 4×3-storey blocks of flats with 48 units in Dzivaresekwa.
The flats have since been completed and commissioned by President Mnangagwa early this month. The construction of 4×4-storey blocks of flats with 64 units in Marondera was at 83 percent completion and construction of 19 civil servants housing units in Lupane had been completed.
Other projects include construction of 20 houses for Binga flood victims that had been completed and construction of the other 17 houses was ongoing. There is also construction of the Mtawatawa Waiting Mothers Shelter which is still ongoing.
“The Ministry facilitated private sector projects such as the 723 stands and construction of 360 housing units of Batanayi Housing Project in Chinhoyi by National Social Security Authority of Zimbabwe, 36 Marondera Flats and 10 churchill cluster homes by FBC Building Society and 72 Crowborough Flats by Homelink,” said Dr Muswere.
He said Cabinet considered and approved the Presidential Solarisation Project by the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA), as presented by the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and Devolution, Cde Lovemore Matuke.
“The project seeks to promote the rural industrialisation development agenda and the realisation of the Rural Development 8.0 Strategy by expanding solar-powered infrastructure.
“Related benefits of the Presidential Solarisation Projects include, piped water system, nutrition gardening, livestock watering, and household usage of power for domestic household purposes,” Dr Muswere said.
“Each rural household will be equipped with a solar system which will power electrical appliances while the Solar Powered Water System will use a submersible pump that will enhance agricultural productivity and food security.
“The system will be installed in remote locations which do not require considerable grid infrastructure. The Presidential Solarisation Project will build resilient communities and develop communities by using non-polluting green energy sources.”
Online Reporter