When a little freedom is heaven

Pretiosa Chimuti

TWO years ago, Sibongile Manyati thought her life was over.

She had just been convicted of robbery and sentenced to an effective four years in prison.

She was taken to Chikurubi Female Prison, where she was to serve her sentence.

At Chikurubi, life was unbearable and miserable.

It was her longing to be reunited with her family that troubled her the most.

Her good behaviour during the period she was incarcerated at Chikurubi finally paid off when she was selected to be among the first group of 30 women who were supposed to be transferred to the Marondera Female Open Prison.

Manyati is now serving the rest of her sentence at the new prison, which was officially opened last week.

“I was sentenced to prison in 2019 for robbery,” she said.

“I was chosen to be one of the first women to be in the open prison and this makes me so happy . . .

“Here we are allowed more freedoms than we had back at Chikurubi.”

Inmates at an open prison are allowed to go home and spend time with their families.

They are also given an opportunity to engage in various activities and programmes in a less restrictive environment.

“I will be staying on my own in my room that I will be allocated.

“I will have more freedom and less supervision like before.

“Just locking and unlocking my own door gives me so much happiness.”

Prisoners are also allowed to undertake various income-generating projects that will benefit their families.

Further, they will acquire sewing, hairdressing and other vocational skills.

It is envisaged that they will use these skills to earn a living after leaving prison.

“Here we are going to do many projects which will help us take care of our families, including paying for their education.”

Zimbabwe is the only country in the SADC region with a female open prison.

Before the opening of the Marondera Female Prison, there was only one open prison — Connemara — just outside Gweru.

It is, however, for male offenders.

Chipo Nyamande, another inmate, said she cannot wait for the opportunity to visit her family.

“What excites me the most is to be given an opportunity to go out and visit my family who I last saw a long time ago,” she said.

Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) Deputy Commissioner-General Dr Granisia Musango said inmates who exhibit good behaviour will be transferred to open prisons.

“Basically, it’s good behaviour that helps us select who goes to open prisons . . . because they will be going home and then come back,” said Dr Musango.

“So we would want the families to be there to support and for the offended to also foster forgiveness.

“The inmate should have served in a closed prison for a certain period. We also consider those who are about to finish their sentences.”

She said open prison systems facilitate wholesome rehabilitation of offenders.

“The open prison system is one aspect of the correctional services as we reintegrate an inmate. In a closed prison, they have all their rights, but the freedom is limited. At an open prison, they go unescorted.”

At the core of the Marondera Female Open Prison is a kitchen hut built by First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, who is patron of the Prison Foundation Trust.

The Trust pooled resources, including gas stoves and solar systems to power the kitchen hut, a borehole and fowl runs for poultry projects. Through her Angel of Hope Foundation, the First Lady weighed in with an assortment of groceries, including maize-meal, rice, laundry soap, cooking oil and soya mince.

Speaking at the official opening, the First Lady said the female open prison would promote and help female inmates’ rehabilitation.

“May it be admitted that the Commissioner-General (Moses Chihobvu), the ZPCS family and Zimbabwe Female Open Prison Foundation Trust worked their hearts out to make this cause a success,” said Amai Mnangagwa.

“This is in spite of the Covid-19 pandemic challenges since 2019.

“As the patron of the Foundation Trust, I also give credit to the Government of Zimbabwe for approving the establishment of the purposefully built Female Open Prison.

“It is meant to meet the special needs of female inmates as well as serving as a vehicle for their rehabilitation, reintegration and empowerment to enhance their livelihoods after prison.”

The idea of an open prison in Zimbabwe got Cabinet approval in 1996, leading to the opening of Connemara Male Open Prison near Gweru, with the first inmates being introduced in 2000.