adminFungai Lupande Mashonaland Central Bureau
The Seventh Day Adventist Church’s youth ministry in Mashonaland Central has adopted 18 prisoners from Bindura prison who have been neglected by their relatives as part of the church’s outreach programme for the less privileged in society.
SDA district youth leader Mr Cain Kajokoto said the initiative was arrived at after the church’s Global Youths Day, whose theme was, “Adopt a prisoner, an orphan or a patient.”
The youths spent the day with the prisoners and the prison choir before donating groceries worth $700 to the prison and $500 to Bindura Hospital.
“The Global Youths Day is celebrated annually during the second Sabbath of March,” said Mr Kajokoto. “The initiative of adopting prisoners will go a long way in teaching our youths to care for the needs of the less privileged people in our community.
“It also exposes them to the challenges faced by such people. We feel we failed to address the issue of clothes to prisoners as our funds limited us. Bindura prisoners are in need of fabric to make their uniforms.
“As it is, some of the inmates spent their time wrapped in blankets. We, therefore, call for partners to help the prisoners.”
SDA youths secretary Mr Denny Runzirwayi said relatives of the adopted prisoners have turned their backs on them and as a church they pledge to visit them and assist with their needs.
“To err is human and as a church we want the prisoners to feel warmth and love which will help them integrate back into society upon being released,” said Mr Runzirwayi.
“We want to minister to people while they are facing difficulties in life so that they feel they are part of the community. They need the comfort of God more and we appeal to relatives not to neglect their loved ones in prison because it is the time they are needed the most.”
Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services provincial assistant chaplain Abigail Chaya said they were grateful to the church for the assistance.
Online Reporter