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Precious Manomano Herald Reporter
It is a wintry Wednesday afternoon at Connemara Open Prison on the outskirts of Kwekwe and the accompanying drizzle seems to be a harbinger of something languid and yet exciting.
Our car rattles to a halt and we notice a group of prisoners, restless and anxious.
While they have been jailed and languishing inside, the festive mood has gripped the nation and all and sundry are ready to roll. The prisoners have caught the holiday fever. They have been told they will be released for the festive season and this is a first. Many prisoners have never gotten that chance.
The prisoners are not sure if they will really be released. Was it a hoax? maybe! But their ears are not for decoration, they might have.
Soon the prisoners are released and lo and Behold!, they are visibly overwhelmed with joy and they will join their families for the festivities.
Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) has released 84 inmates from open prisons to go for festive season, a move which is intended to give these prisoners an opportunity to interact with their families and give them a chance to bring back lost love and plan their future together.
About 45 inmates from Connemara and Marondera open prisons were released for Christmas holiday whilst 39 inmates from both prisons will be released for the new year’s holiday.
The first group of prisoners were released on 22 December and are expected to report back on 28 December whilst the second group will go on the 29th same month and report back on 4 January.
The programme helps to facilitate smooth transition and ultimate acceptance by the respective communities.
Open prison is a concept of a half way home, and for inmates to qualify for this privilege they have to go through a thorough interview and a review of why they are in jail and how they have behaved if they have been in other prisons.
Prisoners did not hide their joy when the Herald was interviewing them saying their release will help to alleviate home sickness and help to facilitate family reunion.
Former principal director of State Residence Douglas Tapfuma who was convicted of abuse of office said he is grateful to the organisation for offering them an opportunity to go home and meet their families, and be able to plan for the future especially this festive season.
Mr Tapfuma urges other people to desist from criminal activities saying that a prison is never a good place.
“We are already introducing ourselves to the society before we finish our sentences so this will help the community to accept us. A lot of families are supporting their families within here, so positive aspects are also done here, people are acquiring various skills to earn a living.
The process of integrating is critical. We are thankful for this initiative which allows us to integrate with our beloved ones in order to plan for the future but we have to be trusted and have a sense of responsibility,” said Mr Tapfuma.
Another prisoner Munyaradzi Gondwe (22) was very excited to such an extent that he ended up singing and dancing praising the Commissioner general of (ZPCS) Moses Chihobvu for introducing them an initiative which will allow them to unite with their beloved ones.
The young man was convicted of robbery for 10 years in prison. He said an open prison gave him an opportunity to learn more skills such as carpentry and welding.
” I am grateful to the Commissioner General, you are a loving and caring father for introducing this noble initiative.
“I am happy l am going to meet my sister Rumbidzai who is taking care of my child,” he said.
He urges other youths to work hard at school and desist from criminal activities that will cause them to end up in prison.
Mr Bezel Kichima, an ex-police officer who is serving a 9-year sentence of armed robbery said a prison gave him an opportunity to acquire skills such as electrical engineering to support his family upon release.
“I was convicted in 2014 when l was staying in Bulawayo,l lost my wife because of prison so l have three children who are currently staying with my younger brother in Harare,” he said.
Connemara and Marondera open prisons are the only open prisons in Zimbabwe.
Connemara open prison Officer in Charge Superintendent Thandani Ndlovu said the process is the gradual reintegration of inmates back to the society.
“We assess whether the inmate has really reformed and how the society itself is responding towards the inmate before he finally joins it fully.
“The way the inmate will behave during that particular time and the way the society react will assist in further tailor making rehabilitation and reintegration programs to address the assessed need,” he said.
Open prisoners are given home leave every month for five days. Prisoners have the privilege to bring other accessories such as refrigerators to accommodate their personal foods, except for alcoholic products.
There is a wardrobe, a bed, a table, a chair and a trunk in each room and a television set in a dining room.
Prisoners who break the rules are sent back to where they were before as a deterrent measure. There were no conjugal rights in prison and inmates had to use their own funds to visit their families.
As they return they will be sharing experiences and they will go down with history as the first group to enjoy Christmas.
Online Reporter