Sidumisile Mabena
Lovemore Dube
FORGET hard labour for a moment. In Bulawayo, inmates are now learning how to swing golf clubs instead of serving only time behind bars!
In a surprising but innovative rehabilitation move, the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services has introduced golf to inmates as part of efforts to reshape behaviour and prepare them for life after prison.
Clad in prison uniforms, inmates from Bulawayo Prison and Khami Maximum Prison were taken to the Harris Allen Golf Club where they were introduced to the sport by resident golfer, Leon Mushonga.
The initiative was led by Officer Commanding Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, Mkhulunyelwa Ngwenya, who said golf carries the values needed to rebuild lives.
“We are introducing golf because it promotes discipline, transparency and honesty. These are the qualities needed for rehabilitation,” he said.
Ngwenya added that sport also helps inmates deal with stress and mental pressure while serving time, giving them a healthier mindset.
He further noted that golf could open doors after release, including employment opportunities as caddies or in other roles within the sport.
“We want inmates to enjoy while serving their time so they do not suffer from stress-related issues,” he said.
One of the inmates, Robert Muleya from Manjolo in Binga, who is serving a three-year-and-eight-month sentence for attempted murder, said the experience gave him hope.
“This has opened my mind. I believe I can do something in sport when I am released,” he said.
Authorities say the programme will target at least 100 inmates in its first phase, as prisons continue to explore sport as a tool for rehabilitation.
Online Reporter