Online Reporter
Dalyn Chigwizura, Zimpapers Reporter
IN a gesture of support for spiritual healing and rehabilitation, the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church’s Zimbabwe West union Conference has delivered a gift to the inmates of Khami Prison, just outside Bulawayo. The initiative involved the donation of 910 GodPod devices, sourced through Adventist World Radio, aimed at nurturing spiritual growth within the facility.
These remarkable, solar-powered audio players were specifically chosen to reach those most often excluded from traditional reading materials — namely, individuals who are visually impaired or illiterate. Each GodPod comes preloaded with the Bible in both English and Ndebele, alongside essential SDA spiritual texts, including The Desire of Ages, Great Controversy, Patriarchs and Prophets, and Prophets and Kings. The distribution represents the Church’s ongoing commitment to bringing the word of God to those seeking comfort and guidance during their time in confinement.
This technology has been adopted in several countries to reach remote communities and vulnerable groups, ensuring access to scripture for those unable to read traditional printed Bibles.
Speaking at the handover ceremony on Thursday, SDA Zimbabwe West union Conference President, Dr Sikhumbuzo Ndlovu, said the donation was intended to complement the Government’s rehabilitation programmes within correctional facilities.
“This is something that a person can switch on and listen to while doing something, and inmates can share among themselves. The devices consist of the whole Bible from Genesis to Revelation in English, and the New Testament in Ndebele,” he said.
Ndlovu noted that the initiative began with inmates who were baptised earlier this year, with plans to extend the outreach to other prisoners in future phases.
“This donation is to show that Jesus is the way, and it will assist in rehabilitation,” he said.
At Remand Prison, the church donated 440 GodPods, while 160 were distributed at Mlondolozi Prison, 160 at Khami Medium Prison, and 150 at Khami Maximum Prison.
One of the recipients, Tongai Rodney Jindu — who was baptised at Khami earlier this year — expressed gratitude on behalf of fellow inmates.
“This is a good initiative because it helps us spread the Word of God among ourselves. We are excited to be receiving these GodPods,” he said.
Pastor Khonzile Khumalo of the SDA Pumula North branch, which oversees Khami Prison, said the initiative would benefit inmates who had been requesting Bibles in local languages.
Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) Bulawayo Provincial Chaplain, Superintendent Felix Muchechesi, welcomed the donation.
“This will help those who don’t have Bibles to still enjoy listening to scriptures. I believe there will be a change in their lives because of these devices,” he said.
Dumisani Nkomo, founder of Jesus Behind Bars — an SDA prison ministry arm and a former inmate himself — said such gestures reassure prisoners that they are not forgotten.
“It builds confidence that when they get out of prison, the community won’t judge them, since this support is coming from the same community,” he said.
