Online Reporter
Givemore Muzariri
VINCENT Denhere, an inmate at Khami Workshop Prison serving a five-year sentence for indecent assault, has expressed deep gratitude for his wife’s steadfast support during his imprisonment. This appreciation comes despite his infidelity, a transgression which ultimately led to his arrest.
Denhere shared his reflections in April at the 2025 Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Bulawayo, where he exhibited with the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS). He revealed his life unravelled after an affair with a subordinate at his Bulawayo shop, a relationship complicated by her many male friends.
“Before I came to prison, I had a number of businesses that I was running, and while doing these projects, I made a lot of money, so much so that I later started cheating on my wife,” Denhere admitted. He observed that “these girlfriends were flocking to me as they knew I could take good care of them and their families without any difficulties.
“At my workshop, I fell in love with one of my tailors. She really understood me and would do anything for me. Our relationship went on for three months without any problems, and in the fourth month, that’s when I discovered she had a lot of male friends. When I discovered this issue, I tried to address it with her, but she refused to let go of her friends. This really stressed me to an extent that I later decided to break up with her,” he said.
Before ending the relationship, Denhere sought advice from his cousin, a fellow tailor at his shop. They agreed he should break it off due to the escalating stress. However, his brother then betrayed his trust.
Denhere believes his cousin’s betrayal led his girlfriend to trap him. She feigned affection, waiting for an opportunity to accuse him of indecent assault or rape. During a night shift, he took her into a room where he fondled her without resistance. Immediately after, she left the premises without informing anyone.
Denhere recounted their routine.
“It had actually become a habit that we’d get into one of the rooms at my shop just to fondle, and on the day in question, we were on night shift when I dragged her into one of the rooms for that routine. While in that room, we fondled and kissed, and in the process, she never resisted my advances.
“Soon after that incident, we relaxed for some time before we went back to our workstations, and when we left that room, the lady left the premises without notifying anyone. It was after two hours when we saw the lady back in the shop, but this time in the company of police officers alleging that I had indecently assaulted her in that room.”
Initially, Denhere’s accuser viewed her claims as minor. However, once the police prepared the docket, she grasped the seriousness of the situation and that he faced a long prison term. At that point, it was too late to withdraw the case.
“When the docket was prepared by the police officers, they made it clear I was going to be given not less than 10 years in prison for what I had done. That information frightened her, so she tried to withdraw the case before the police officers, but it was already too late. The police officers said they had no time to waste with such people. Instead, if she wanted to withdraw the case, it could only be done at the courts.”
Following the docket’s compilation, police referred the case to court, where Denhere faced indecent assault charges. During the full trial, it was proven he had exploited his employee. Consequently, Denhere received a 10-year prison sentence, with five years suspended for good behaviour.
“The sentence was rather too long for me; worse, I had not involved my wife in the day-to-day running of these businesses, so this automatically meant my businesses were not going to survive in my absence.”
Despite his actions, his wife’s reaction profoundly affected him.
“Even though I had disappointed my wife, she promised to continue supporting me and my children. That reaction made me realise how much I had disappointed her by not being loyal,” he explained.
Upon conviction, Denhere was transferred to Khami Remand Prison, where he learned about the available workshops offering various trades, including tailoring, welding, and carpentry. Initially overwhelmed by stress, he spent two months inactive. However, he eventually joined the tailoring section of the workshop, where his diligent work quickly revealed his aptitude for garment construction, tailoring, and machine repair.
This workshop experience, Denhere noted, helped him discover a new purpose, envisioning a future fixing machines and creating employment. His demonstrated potential also secured him a spot on the ZITF 2025 exhibiting team, where he engaged with visitors keen to understand the rehabilitation process.
“The exposure I got from the workshop is really helping me refocus on my life when it comes to my work, and I hope this is going to help me grow to be one of the best brands in Zimbabwe,” he stated, reflecting on his renewed sense of purpose.
Since arriving at Khami Remand Prison, Denhere has come to understand the crucial role of family support through all of life’s ups and downs. He considers his wife’s visits a vital part of his rehabilitation, as they reinforce the importance of constant mutual support.
“I thank my wife for supporting me in such trying times, and I would like to promise my family that I will be there for them for the remaining days of my life,” he affirmed, expressing his profound gratitude. “I know I disappointed my wife, but she is still coming to visit me, and with that in mind, I would like to thank the Lord for giving me such a caring wife who understands me despite having disappointed her.”
Denhere also thanked ZPCS management for implementing “family week,” an initiative allowing unlimited visits to foster inmates’ gradual reintegration into society.
“I would like to thank the management of ZPCS for giving us an opportunity to have unlimited time during Family Week to interact with our relatives and friends. This programme has actually helped us to amend our relations while still in prison, and this has helped a lot of people whom they wronged while still outside prison.”
