Sports avenues for rehabilitation of inmates

THE Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS), which long adopted the worldwide trend of prisons being rehabilitation centres more than hellish punishment institutions, is exploring sport as one rehabilitation option.

Within sport are a number of avenues, which give hope that when they finish serving their terms they are integrated into society to practice as coaches, players or match officials. The Prisons and Correctional Services Department is working with associations and stakeholders to ensure that inmates mix recreation, rehabilitation and future foundation laying by indulging in sport.

It is also part of wellness, mixing with community and getting the vibe and positive outlook about life outside.
Bulawayo already has a soccer team of inmates that plays in the social league and is among the top clubs.

The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services believes sport is a key tool towards the rehabilitation of inmates.

The Officer Commanding Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, Mkhulunyelwa Ngwenya said this at the first inmates induction session at Harry Allen Golf Club where on Thursday they were introduced to the sport.

Clad in their prison garb, inmates drawn from Bulawayo Prison and Khami Maximum Prison took to the greens and fairways as they were being taken through their paces by resident golfer, Leon Mushonga.

Ngwenya said golf was unique but among the best for rehabilitating those about to join their families as it called for discipline and transparency. In the sport, golfers self-officiate, which calls for honesty and integrity.

“As Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, we have introduced golf to inmates, we intend having a 100 in this opening quarter, people will ask why golf, people will probably ask, it provides many qualities that can enhance our rehabilitation programmes,” said Ngwenya.

“When you talk golf, you talking about transparency, you talking about discipline and talking about honesty, those are the qualities that we would like to talk about when working on rehabilitation,” said Ngwenya, who added that sporting activities are good for both mental and physical health.

“We want inmates to manage while serving their time so that they do not have issue of stress and other issues that affect incarcerated individuals,” said Ngwenya.

Ngwenya said sport can provide employment opportunities after they have served time. In golf, apart from playing, he said they can come back and work as caddies.

“With discipline our rehabilitation will be enhanced, it is what we want them to take to the outside world,” Ngwenya said.

Robert Muleya from Manjolo in Binga who is serving three years and eighth months for attempted murder was among the inmates who were taught how to play golf.

He said he is happy to have gone through the exercise and it gives him hope that he may do something in sport when he is released.

Wise Mlilo(26), who is in for six months after an assault charge involving a fight with his younger brother and a friend said: “We were at a pub and I fought my younger brother, his friend and a neighbour, I was jailed on December 5 last year and given a six-month sentence.”

Mlilo said he is hopeful that golf will help him manage anger issues.

“I would like to thank the Correctional Services for this opportunity, especially where we are playing golf. Golf demands discipline and I am sure it will assist me when I am released to control anger issues,” said Mlilo.

Thabani Munyanyi who is serving at Bulawayo Prison said he was incarcerated for unlawful entry and theft in Victoria Falls.

“I was sentenced to serve 48 months. Golf is a serious sport that, when one takes seriously, he can make a living out of,” said Munyanyi.

Joseph Dzimati the club administrator at Harry Allen, described Thursday as a special day in which they hosted prison inmates at their facility.

“We have a strategic partnership with ZPCS in the rehabilitation of inmates, we have a programme with ZCPS that stretches from the top brass right up to the inmates.

“They have adopted an interesting approach to rehabilitation of inmates, and we as a golf club our mandate is to foster an interest in golf, we have taken it upon ourselves to incorporate ZPCS in our structures. Leon Mushonga our resident golfer has taken it upon himself to introduce them to basic golf,” said Dzimati.