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Marshall Bwanya Features Writer
Prisons are mostly viewed as dark and gloomy institutions, that facilitate incarcerated inmates for sole punishment and retribution. Some members of society fail to realise that prisons are correctional institutions meant for the rehabilitation of prisoners so they come out as good and reformed citizens.
Ex-prisoners are seen as “black sheep” of society and often alienated by the same communities they committed crimes on. Yet great men like President Robert Mugabe, former South African leader, apartheid icon Nelson Mandela and the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo, served time in prison and re-integrated back into society accomplishing great feats.
Upon release some ex-prisoners face discrimination, stigma and unemployment as they make their way back to society. Most people are reluctant to accept, employ or associate with ex-convicts, making it difficult for to them to re-integrate back into society.
Some ex-prisoners end up resorting back to criminal activities that see them ending back in prison, when society isolates them.
Zimbabwe Prison Services nationwide rehabilitation and integration exercise has over the years transformed people’s lives for the better.
Mr Mike Matema, an inmate serving a 10-year jail sentence for armed robbery, said he was always in and out of prison before he was involved in one of the rehabilitation exercises.
“I was a hardcore criminal who always ended up in prison every time I was released because I had no other profession to pursue and make a decent living.
“The rehabilitation exercise has given me a new start in life.
“I realised that prison was not the end of the world but a new chapter that opened in my life, I received salvation and discovered my true calling as a pastor,” he said.
Mr Matema is one of the group members of Tehillah Choir in Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison who have since released their elating debut album “Regererai”.
Society is already benefiting from the fruits of the new improved Matema, who is now also a qualified marriage officer who has successfully counselled several married couples.
The melodious songs sung by Tehillah group whilst putting on their ecstatic performance have been known to mesmerise members of the public into tears.
ZPS chief prisoner officer Mr Solomon Mutamba urged society to give ex-prisoners a second chance.
“Some of the ex-prisoners struggle to re-integrate back into society because they may have stolen, raped or killed in the family or community.
“Society must learn to forgive and give ex-prisoners a second chance to start a new life with skills and techniques they have learnt in prison,” he said.
ZPS offers various rehabilitation programmes to inmates such as mechanical engineering, music classes and one year tobacco courses conducted by tobacco expects.
Faced with financial constraints and shortage of equipment these rehabilitation programmes only cater for a limited number of prisoners. Ex-prisoner Mr Omberai Zambuko, who served a sentence of six years, said there were more challenges outside than inside prison.
“I was convicted of rape and when I was released from prison, the church, extended family and friends were not ready to accept me.
“It was a painful experience sometimes, I felt it was better to be inside than outside because some people do not accept that you have changed for the better,” he said.
Mr Zambuko has reunited with his fellow inmates forming Divine Touch Choir. He is presently involved in a crime awareness programme that seeks to curb criminal activities and assist ex-prisoners with counselling.
“It is a trustee that teaches people that crime does not pay. It focuses on how best we can prevent crime in the streets and at work.”
He reiterated that being in prison made him a greater person
“Prison made me realise how much my wife loved me as she was waiting for me all those six years I was in prison,” he said.
Mr Zambuko’s wife, Portia Chakoma, said her husband was a reformed person ever since he came out of prison.
“My husband has been a loving husband and father from the day he came out of prison,” Chakoma said.
“His attitude and perception towards life has changed and he is now pursuing a music career.”
Mr William Munetsi said rehabilitation opened his eyes like the biblical Paul on the road to Damascus.
“I had lost all hope in life when I was sentenced to seven years in prison. The rehabilitation programme gave me another chance in life and made me discover my talent in music,” he said.
Mr Munesti said through rehabilitation he came to know it was possible to pursue an honest business outside of crime. Reformed ex-prisoners pursuing legitimate honest careers are living testimony that crime does pay.
Mr Andrew Chingayi said rehabilitation starts when you cease being in denial and accept you committed a crime.
“When I was sentenced to seven years imprisonment for culpable homicide I thought the law had been very unfair to me.
“Rehabilitation made me accept consequences of my actions and change to be a better person. When I got out of prison I pursued an honest living and got a job at OK Marondera sales department,” he said.
Mr Chingayi said prison was not painful punishment to chastise prisoners but one had to make a conscious decision to change.
Mr Farai Matsiuke said Government should introduce a law that protects ex-prisoners from discrimination and unemployment. “Everyone deserves a second chance in life because as human beings we all make mistakes.
“Government should craft a law that protects ex-prisoners from the stigma and discrimination because they had served time in a correctional facility for their crimes. The reason they are released from prison back into society is to co-exist with other members of public in productive relationships,” he said.
Mr Matsiuke reiterated that discriminating against ex-prisoners is retrogressive as it leads them to go back to the path of crime.
Society must learn to accept reformed ex-prisoners and those serving time because there is a lot of good coming from these rehabilitation programmes.
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