adminprison officer Priscilla Mthembo said Government funds were inadequate to meet the offenders’ examination fees and learning material.
She said Zimbabwean prisons were recording high pass rates and needed adequate support.
“Education is one area where we need massive support. Government gives us a small grant towards the education of inmates and we are looking for partners who pay fees to various examination boards,” she said.
“Most of the offenders have been producing good results and the education acquired can have economic and social benefit to the country in the future.”
Prisoners are offered primary to tertiary education while those who are not academically talented are trained to do manual jobs.
CPO Mthembo said inmates can be best corrected through education.
“Not all of them are academically gifted, but some can come out of the prisons holding professional qualifications and skills which they can use to secure employment.
“We have our own teachers and we also make use of educators in prison that are willing to educate others,” she said.
CPO Mthembo said prisoners were not outcasts and should benefit from various empowerment programmes being carried out in the country.
“Those programmes benefiting people outside should be taken to the prisons.
“A term of imprisonment is enough punishment for someone and there is no reason why we should stop supporting him or her when incarcerated,” she said.
“We need support in constructing big workshops for those who might be doing vocational training and the dream can only be realised if we are supported by various partners.”
She said it was everyone’s duty to reintegrate prisoners back into the society.
CPO Mthembo said ex-prisoners needed “sound reintegration” for them to fully realise their poten-tial.
“It is always difficult for ex-prisoners to re-enter the job market due to the stigma attached to them.
“They need another chance for them to contribute meaningfully. To the families, we say accept them though they might have committed their crimes within the families,” she said.
Churches, she said, should continue providing inmates with spiritual lessons and religious books.
“They can also invite inmates to fellowships outside churches. We have clear testimonies of people who have repented while in prison and this was achievable through churches,” she said.
Online Reporter