Inmates do well in exams

Amanda Chikari, Midlands Reporter
WHAWHA Medium Prison primary and secondary schools for young offenders in Gweru recorded an average 60 percent pass rate in the 2016 Zimsec public examinations.

The Grade Seven class recorded a 65,7 percent pass rate while the O-level class recorded a 58 percent pass rate, as the prison in Gweru makes strides in rehabilitating young offenders.

In an interview on the sidelines of a donation of washing soap bars and bins worth $1 500 by a Gweru-based construction company, Zimbuild Property Investments at Whawha Medium Prison last week, Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services officer-in- charge for Whawha, Superintendent Taisoni Manatsa said the prison education system has managed to turn young offenders into brilliant pupils.

“The prison education system has managed to transform our inmates as we educate them from primary to tertiary level. Last year 15 pupils sat for the Grade Seven Zimsec examinations and we recorded a 65,7 percent pass rate while 45 pupils sat for the Ordinary Level November examinations and we recorded a 58 percent pass rate. For the Advanced Level six sat for the examinations and we recorded an 85 percent pass rate which is impressive,” he said.

Supt Manatsa said among the pupils who sat for the Advanced level examinations, one of them was now studying Development Studies with Zimbabwe Open University.

Zimbuild chief executive officer Dr Tinashe Manzungu said that they have since cultivated a relationship with the ZPCS through the company’s social corporate responsibility.

“Being a prisoner doesn’t mean one has to suffer and be of ill-health, instead one has to have all the resources so that he or she can be rehabilitated and go back into the society. Last year we donated $30 000 towards the inmates sports gala and this year we have donated soap and bins. The bins are used to put food so that the prisoners get it while it is still warm,” he said.

Mr Manzungu said apart from helping the inmates they were also assisting ZPCS members get affordable houses and stands through a cheap housing facility.

“We have an ongoing housing project for ZPCS members about four kilometres out of Gweru along Lower Gweru Road. As an organisation we are appealing to other stakeholders to give a hand to the inmates because they need to rediscover themselves,” he said.

@amanda49