Crime does not pay: Ex-convict

Senior Weekender Reporter
A PENHALONGA man who was sentenced to nine years behind bars and served time at Mutare Farm Prison after he was found in possession of 75kg of marijuana has come out a changed man. In an unsolicited interview with The Weekender this week, John Brown (37) urged youths to stay away from crime, saying it does not pay.

“When I used to peddle mbanje from Mozambique via Nyanga and sell it to peddlers in Harare and Kadoma I saw myself as a clever person, but the truth came out when I was arrested and subsequently jailed. I had spent more than seven years in the trade when things went wrong one day,” he said.

Brown said it was no joke to spend one night in prison.
“It is hard being behind bars because your rights will be limited. You have no say to what you eat and you are told what to do, when to sleep and when to eat. Crime does not pay. I have spent years in jail and surely it is hard for me to make up for the time that I lost.

“I can’t even operate these touch screen cell phones you are using. Right now, I am way back in terms of technology. The people I grew up with are obviously miles ahead of me in terms of personal development and I must push harder to catch up.”
Brown said barely a month following his arrest his wife deserted him. He also lost his only son.

“For about a month my wife visited me and brought food, but she suddenly stopped. My only son died and I sobbed while in prison because I could not attend his burial.
“Up to now I don’t know where they buried him because I only came out of prison last week.

“I am yet to go home. The other thing that is giving me sleepless nights is that I can’t go home and see my mother empty-handed. I have to work first and bring her something,” he said.

Brown praised the current administration at Mutare Farm Prison for looking after inmates well and developing them for life after incarceration.

“Although I was in jail, I learnt a lot of things which will help me during these hard times we are facing as a nation.
“Currently, I am working at a gold mine in Penhalonga and with the few dollars that I was promised I intend to venture into carpentry. I want to forget the past and start anew.”