Online Reporter
Raymond Jaravaza, Sunday News Reporter
THE vast and imposing Khami Prison Complex, a usually quiet and serene place that houses thousands of inmates, was yesterday transformed into a vibrant space of joy with sizzling braais, music and heartfelt reunions as inmates experienced a rare moment of freedom and familial warmth.
Khami Prison Complex on the outskirts of Bulawayo consists of Khami Maximum Prison, Medium Prison, Remand Prison and Mlondolozi Prison, which houses female inmates and mental health patients.
For a place that houses some of the most hardened criminals in the country, the prison complex opened its gates, not for release, but for reconnection — for a special time dedicated to nurturing the human spirit behind bars.
As part of the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) Inmates’ Family Week, families were allowed to visit inmates and spend time together under less strict conditions.
The air was thick with the aroma of barbouqued meat, while laughter echoed through the walls. For a moment, the grimness of prison life gave way to scenes of joy.
Children, often shielded from the realities of incarceration, were welcomed in to hug, laugh, and play with their fathers, uncles and brothers, many for the first time in years.
At the usually austere Education Hall, where inmates gather for lessons, had undergone a remarkable transformation.
White drapes adorned the walls, soft music played in the background and the room brimmed with families clinking soft drink bottles in celebration of precious time together.
Mthabisi Ncube, an armed robber who will spend the remaining 18 years of his 25 year sentence behind bars, was overjoyed at spending the day with his mother and two sisters.
For the first time Ncube held his two-year- old niece, his sister’s daughter, in his arms.
“This is the best time of my life. I’m now an uncle and for the first time I’m holding my little niece and seeing my mother and sisters brought so much joy in my heart,” said Ncube.
In the heart of the prison courtyard, an open fire crackled as inmates, including pastor Biggie Dube, a Gweru man of the cloth, who is caged for rape.
Dube’s two wives, who have stood by his side since the day he was handed a 15-year sentence for sexually violating his third wife, brought groceries for him.
They shared meat and soft drinks.
“The family week is a noble initiative that gives us (inmates) the opportunity to spend quality time with our families. My wives are here and it feels good to be spending time with my family.
“People ask why my wives are still coming to visit me in jail and my response is that they know that I was convicted of a crime that I didn’t commit. My third wife was angry that I wanted to marry another woman so she fabricated the rape charges,” said Dube.
Across the country’s prisons, ZPCS dedicates the family week each year to reuniting families, an initiative aimed at supporting rehabilitation through love and emotional connection.
Friends and relatives are not only allowed to visit, but also bring food, snacks, and essentials such as toiletries. Visits are permitted daily throughout the week.
The Officer Commanding ZPCS Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, Commissioner Mkhulunyelwa Ngwenya, said Family Week plays a vital role in encouraging rehabilitation.
“The family support system is very important for inmates as it reassures them that they are still loved. It’s important for inmates to keep in touch with family so they know what is happening in the outside world and that there is life after prison,” said Comm Ngwenya.
At Mlondolozi Prison, the remaining female prisoners who were not eligible for the Presidential Amnesty last month, the family week was a time of joy and laughter with family.
Linda Chipara was overjoyed at spending time with her mother and brother.
“This is the only time that I get to share a meal with my family and I’m happy that my mother and brother came to visit me,” she said.
