Online Reporter
Arron Nyamayaro
Herald Reporter
PATIENTS at the Psychiatric Unit of Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison received a limited number of visitors during the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service Family Week.
Designed to hold 150 inmates, the unit is currently housing 436 individuals.
On Tuesday, only 14 inmates were able to greet visitors.
Among them is Member Dombotshena, incarcerated since 2014.
The day saw only 47 visitors, reflecting the emotional struggles families face.
Inmates in this unit are ineligible for amnesty or participation in trials, complicating their already challenging circumstances.
One well-known inmate is Assistant Inspector Simbarashe Mandizvidza, a stark reminder of the complex lives entwined with law enforcement.
Ms Christina Manzongo visited her son, Edward, who has faced a long battle with drug addiction.
“I felt it was important to visit my son to give him moral support and remind him of our love,” said Ms Manzongo.
“We still believe in him and look forward to seeing a change.”
She recounted how Edward’s addiction spiralled, leading him to steal household items and sell his clothes, ultimately tearing their family apart.
A recent Zimpapers visit to five prisons revealed alarming statistics: Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison, with a designed capacity of 1 414, is home to 3 099 inmates.
This situation underscores the urgent need to address overcrowding within the system. Chikurubi Farm Prison recorded 70 visitors on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Female Prison, with a capacity of 315, holds 411 inmates, of whom only 50 received visits.
A group of 45 children also entered the female prison, seeking the comforting embrace of their mothers serving various sentences in a place where hope can feel elusive.
Harare Remand Prison reported 512 visitors, including 133 children, some of whom went to see inmates like former Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi.
In contrast, Harare Central Prison recorded an overwhelming 920 visitors, comprising 294 children, highlighting the enduring personal connections that persist despite incarceration.
During an emotional visit, Ms Tambudzai Nyanhete (52) from Mukarakate village in Murehwa, went to see her late younger sister’s son, Evans Chamboko (34), who is serving a 15-year sentence for rape.
Likewise, Isaac Kambangu, sentenced to 22 years for vandalising public utilities, was overjoyed to receive a visit from his wife, Brenda Chabwedzeka (25) who travelled from Concession in Mashonaland Central with their baby girl.
Isaac’s joy was particularly poignant, as he was arrested while Brenda was pregnant.
“I feel honoured and comforted to see my wife visiting me,” he said.
“She is still with my parents when some women might choose to return to their families in situations like this. Above all, she gave birth to a baby girl, adding to the two boys we have been blessed with.”
As families connect with inmates, these visits shed light on the complex tapestry of love, regret, and hope, painting a vivid picture of life within the walls of Chikurubi and elsewhere.
