Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo [email protected]
GRADUATING inmates at Bulawayo Polytechnic College have hailed the Second Republic and the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) for affording them an opportunity to pursue professional education while serving their sentences.
The inmates were part of 73 incarcerated students from Khami Medium and Maximum Prisons who are graduating from the institution on Thursday.
Speaking on the sidelines of the graduation ceremony, the inmates said the opportunity had given them hope for a better future and equipped them with skills they could use to contribute to the development of the country after completing their sentences.
Mr Emmanuel Ncube, who is serving a 12-year sentence for rape, said graduating as a boilermaker had given him hope of rebuilding his life after prison.
“I extend my appreciation to the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa. I was chosen to be part of this programme and this has brought a future for me because I know one day I will get out of prison and pursue this profession,” he said.
Another inmate, Mr Mandlenkosi Ndlovu, who is also serving a sentence for rape, said although his arrest had been difficult, he had used his time in prison to transform his life.
“We are asking for forgiveness from the families of those I wronged, including the victim. I have transformed my life and look forward to contributing to the development of my country once out of prison,” he said.
Mr Ndlovu commended ZPCS for the programme and urged fellow inmates to take advantage of educational opportunities available to them.
“The ZPCS must really be commended for this programme and I call upon fellow inmates not to be shy in taking up such initiatives,” he said.
Mr Lungisani Mazanga, who is serving his sentence at Khami Medium Prison, graduated in crop production and animal husbandry.
He said he had deliberately chosen the courses because he wanted to contribute to Zimbabwe’s food security after his release.
“I salute the ZPCS for affording me this chance. I chose these courses because I want to ensure that Zimbabwe returns to its status as the breadbasket for the continent by 2030,” said Mr Mazanga, who is the organic gardens overseer at the prison.
The graduation comes as ZPCS continues to promote rehabilitation and skills development among inmates, with education and vocational training forming part of efforts to prepare prisoners for reintegration into society.
