Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo
TSHOLOTSHO is the place to be this week as the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) Matabeleland North Province rolls out its Officer Commanding’s Sports Gala, leading up to the Prisons Day commemorations set for Friday.
The annual Prisons Day celebration shines a light on the ZPCS’s role in the criminal justice system, highlighting rehabilitation programmes, inmate innovations, and community reintegration efforts through sports, music, and exhibitions.
“This week, ZPCS Matabeleland North Province is going to be hosting the Officer Commanding’s Sports Gala in Tsholotsho,” said Assistant Principal Correctional Officer Cynthia Magutshwa, the provincial spokesperson.
She said both officers and inmates will compete across eight sporting disciplines — soccer, netball, chess, pool, darts, tug of war, athletics, and volleyball.
“The games are done yearly as a platform for officers in the province to meet and mingle. We also incorporate inmate teams,” said Magutshwa.
The action kicks off Wednesday with indoor games — chess, pool, and darts — before outdoor battles take centre stage on Thursday.
The curtain will come down on Friday, with Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Richard Moyo expected to headline the Prisons Day commemorations, which will also feature finals for soccer and tug of war.
Spectators can also expect drill displays, music performances, and skill exhibitions showcasing the rehabilitation work happening behind prison walls.
Matabeleland North boasts 11 prisons, including satellite facilities, and this week’s showcase is expected to draw large crowds as officers and inmates unite through sport and camaraderie.
