Chronicle Editor
Flora Fadzai Sibanda, [email protected]
THE Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) has come up with a programme to equip recruited correctional officers from the San community in Tsholotsho district, Matabeleland North with basic education at its Anju informal school.
The move is in line with the Second Republic’s thrust of fostering inclusivity by reaching out to previously marginalised communities.
President Mnangagwa has been at the forefront of driving the inclusion of the San community through affirmative action in key sectors of the economy, with Government entities expected to deliberately allocate slots for them. This was backed by a Cabinet resolution that the country’s security services should set up a quota system for the San community, as part of their integration into broader society.
Under this framework, the San community beneficiaries are allowed to join the ZPCS, for instance, without the usual requirements that include having five Ordinary Level subject passes. At the 150th recruit correctional officers’ pass-out procession at Ntabazinduna Prison Training School in 2022, about 20 youths from the San community in Tsholotsho District became the first group to graduate as ZPCS officers.
In an interview yesterday, the officer commanding ZPCS in Matabeleland North, Commissioner Netsai Hlabano said they requested candidates from the chief of the San community in Tsholotsho and he gave them 15 people.
Of those recruited, 11 are males and four are females.
Among those recruited were Rolvado Tshuma, Phathisani Ndebele, Again Sibanda, Helton Ncube, Benson Moyo, Derick Sino, Vuyo Ncube, Nimrod Ndlovu, Mthobonhliziyo Dube, Obvious Ndlovu, Venyson Gumbo, Nomvelo Moyo, Eunice Sibanda, Sebele Sibonisiwe and Nomazulu Ngwenya.
“The oldest is 29 years old while the youngest is 18 years old. We took them from the chief and fortunately, they were all willing to work with us,” said Comm Hlabano.
“They went through the same procedure as everyone else, but they were exempted from the minimum requirements of five O-levels.”
Comm Hlabano said the recruited candidates are set to start the six-month training programme next month.
She said the 15 recruited candidates would be given a chance to go back to school. Those who had missed class would start from Early Childhood Development (ECD) up to the tertiary level.
“We have realised that most of these people from the San community were deprived of education hence as part of our programmes, we offer them informal learning at our Anju centre,” said Comm Hlabano.
“This is not the first group that will be at Anju Informal School as we currently have 29 learners, who are already enrolled there.”
The San community is found on the outskirts of Bulilima District, Matabeleland South and Tsholotsho District in Matabeleland North.
Before the Second Republic’s interventions, the San people lived in their own world, far removed from the rest of the country. Most of them did not have birth certificates or identity documents, resulting in them lacking access to many services, including health and voting.
A majority of them could not access school and as a result, could not secure formal jobs, but only menial ones.
Online Reporter