Chronicle Editor
Sikhulekelani Moyo, [email protected]
PRISON can be a place of despair and hopelessness, where one feels that life is over and that society will never accept them again. Many inmates lose their faith, their relationships and their sense of purpose. They think nothing good can ever come out of their lives.
However, some inmates use their time in prison as an opportunity to change their lives for the better. They take advantage of the rehabilitation programmes offered by the prison authorities and learn new skills that can help them reintegrate into society.
This is the story of Antony Mhizha, a 35-year-old man who served three years at Bulawayo Prisons for fraud. He is now back at the same prison, but this time as a partner, producing and selling furniture to the community and teaching his former inmates carpentry skills.
Mhizha said he became a professional carpenter after benefiting from the skills development projects offered by Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS). He said he had a passion for carving since he was young, and he used to make and sell rock sculptures.
He said he applied his carving experience to wood when he was convicted in 2021 and he learned from other inmates who were doing the same at Bulawayo Prisons.
“I started rock carving when I was in Grade Three, when I was in Grade Six there was someone who wanted to take me to Australia, but my parents refused. I then continued with my studies up to Ordinary Level and the market for my products declined, thus I thought of going to Botswana. Things were not good there and I came back home and tried to make ends meet but I failed, then I got a job from a certain company where I committed a crime.
“I then came to Bulawayo Prison and in 2021, I saw someone producing some jewellery boxes and I got inspired and through the support from ZPCS rehab, I started learning and producing the jewellery boxes and it was my first time to do wood carving.”
He said with the support of the prison, he started to produce chairs and he even exhibited them at last year’s Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF). He said he makes products like tables, chairs, spice grinders and vases and he also does repairs on all furniture products. He has plans to start producing wardrobes, beds and couches, but he needs more equipment, which he is appealing for from well-wishers.
He said he gets a certain percentage from the sales of his products, which is part of the agreement he has with ZPCS. He said this initiative helps to build trust in the community that the rehabilitation done by ZPCS is effective and sufficient to produce well-groomed people who are fit to go back to their communities.
ZPCS offers rehabilitation programmes and also an opportunity for inmates to learn some life skills, such as building, plumbing, carpentry, hairdressing and horticulture, among others. This gives inmates a chance to develop skills that will assist them when they go back to their families.
Mhizha said the communities and relatives of ex-convicts should not neglect them but they should support them so that they can use the skills they get from prison to earn a living. He also said even before people commit crimes, the communities should try to understand the struggles they face and assist them, as he said there are people with qualifications and skills in prison who committed crimes due to some push factors like failure to get a job.
“When it comes to art, it’s something I naturally have, so I also thought of coming here to teach my former inmates because talent is something that needs to be shared so that these people will also get something to do when they go back to their families.
“We know it’s not easy to get a job, but if they have these life skills, they will create their own jobs. When someone goes to prison, it doesn’t mean they are going to die, but they will learn different skills including how to be good people in communities because there are so many projects which are being done in prison.
“When I finished my services, I got assistance from Bulawayo Prisons, they gave me a place to work from and some equipment to start the job and so far, we are planning to start producing beds, wardrobes and couches if the prison officials finalise the issue,” he said.
Mhizha said his good behaviour during his prison term earned him the support of the prison authorities, who helped him to start a new life after his release. He said he was remorseful for his crime and he wanted to prove that he could be a good citizen.
“When you realise that what you did was wrong, you have to accept and repent just like what we do with kids, we discipline them, but for adults, you sit down and decide if you want to continue with the wrong path or you want to repent,” he said.
Mhizha is now working on a new design that he hopes to showcase at this year’s Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF). He said he needs more resources to complete his project and he is appealing for assistance from anyone who can help him realise his dream.
“I have a vision to produce quality furniture that can compete with the best in the market. I need more equipment and materials to make my design a reality. I am grateful for the opportunity that ZPCS has given me to partner with them and to teach other inmates the skills that I have learned. I hope to inspire others to change their lives for the better.”
ZPCS is a leader in rehabilitating and integrating inmates into productive activities by offering them critical life-skills training in various sectors. Through its carpentry, salon, horticulture nursery, car wash and other practical services, Bulawayo Prison is serving the community and contributing to the city’s economy.
In other parts of the country, ZPCS has transformed prisons into profitable agricultural enterprises with Anju Prison farm in Matabeleland North and Khami Prisons being prime examples. — @SikhulekelaniM1
Online Reporter