Chronicle Editor
Michael Magoronga, Midlands Correspondent
MIDLANDS Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Owen Ncube on Thursday took some time off his busy schedule to interact with inmates at Kwekwe Prison as part of the Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services (ZPCS) Inmates Family Week where he bought meals for the inmates whose relatives could not visit them.
He also donated meat for braai and drinks for the inmates.
Minister Ncube applauded the Second Republic under the leadership of President Mnangagwa for his people-centric and listening leadership, saying the setting aside of the important week to reintegrate families separated by legal processes and circumstances was a positive initiative.
“We applaud His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Cde Dr ED Mnangagwa, for his genuine concern for the well-being of our inmates and the smooth operation of correctional institutions. Our people-centric leader addressed transport challenges previously faced by ZPCS by providing a fleet of service vehicles, buses and lorries to ensure timely prosecution of cases as you all know justice delayed is justice denied,” said Minister Ncube.
He said the Government remains committed to addressing challenges faced by most prisons in the country, especially water problems.
“Yesterday I commissioned a solar-powered borehole at Shurugwi Female Prison provided by our listening President as we ensure no one and no place is left behind as we gravitate towards an upper middle-income economy earlier than 2030, prison institutions included,” said the Minister.
Minister Ncube said his visit comes after learning that some inmates did not get visitors.
“I am reliably informed that some families failed to visit their relatives here at Kwekwe Prison while others enjoyed the company of kith and kin and had meals together.
“As your Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, I saw it fit to emulate our President’s humanitarian heart and emotional intelligence in a very small way, by spending time, braaing with over 200 inmates whose relatives could not make it during the ZPCS family week here at Kwekwe Prison,” he said.
ZPCS Officer Commanding Midlands Province Commissioner Somemore Gate said the Family Week was a major part of the reintegration process for inmates.
During the week, families and friends are allowed to spend time with inmates as part of reintegration, and rehabilitation as well as maintaining relevance within families.
The family week is designed to provide a conducive environment that supports the broader ZPCS rehabilitation programmes through family and psycho-social support.
“Family Week and other programmes like Another Chance are meant to maintain ties between inmates and their loved ones so that when one is inside reintegration becomes easy. This is part of the reintegration process and ensuring that there is no stigmatisation of inmates because one day or the other, it might be them who will be inside,” he said.
Kwekwe Prisons is home to about 250 inmates with less than 10 being females.
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