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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu [email protected]
THE Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services (ZPCS) Matabeleland South has rolled out a community engagement exercise to bridge the gap that still exists between communities and convicts.
Under the exercise, Gwanda Prison inmates are conducting a clean-up exercise along with prison officials. They are also conducting drug awareness campaigns in schools.
The engagement is being held ahead of the ZPCS Matabeleland South Prison and Correctional Service Day which will be held at Phelandaba Stadium on Saturday. The event will be held under the theme “Rehabilitation a collective responsibility.”
Inmates will have an opportunity to showcase their skills in various activities such as the exhibition of artefacts, music, dance, and soccer among others.
Speaking after a clean-up exercise in the Gwanda CBD on Tuesday ZPCS acting officer commanding Matabeleland South Assistant Commissioner Sema Mbanje said the community plays a crucial role in the rehabilitation of inmates.
She said ex-convicts often fail to find a place in society after being released because of a negative attitude from the community.
Asst Commissioner Mbanje said the community engagement exercise seeks to bring inmates in close contact with the people to observe that despite being incarcerated prisoners can do well and contribute towards development.
“We saw it fit to carry out this exercise as it plays a crucial role in assisting us to fulfil our mandate as of ZPCS of rehabilitation and re-integration. During the week, we move around with inmates as they clean the streets and do other social responsibility work. To have a successful re-integration of inmates back into society we need to incorporate the society.
“Our focus is no longer within the walls but we need the involvement of the community and other stakeholders. We want people to understand that once a person has been released from prison they will no longer be a convict hence the need for forgiveness and re-integration. This is critical for people to understand because sometimes the community takes the law into their hands by attacking ex-convicts thereby committing an offence themselves,” she said.
Asst Commissioner Mbanje urged residents from the town to come in numbers and attend the ZPCS Mat South Prison and Correctional Service Day in order to witness the impact of the rehabilitative process. She said if not reintegrated within the community some ex-convicts can go back to crime under the assumption that they do not fit in this world.
Gwanda mayor, Alderman Thulani Moyo who was part of the clean-up exercise commended the ZPCS for doing a good job in the rehabilitation of inmates. He said the municipality is prepared to support inmates once they’re released in the various business ventures they wish to undertake.
“We are being enlightened as stakeholders that being in prison isn’t a death sentence but it’s a start of a refined life. I would like to urge you as inmates to utilise this opportunity to turn a new leaf in your lives.
“As a municipality, we will support former inmates in any way that we can so that they are empowered and capacitated to stand on their own. The prison has people with expertise in various fields and we need their contribution in attaining Vision 2030. I urge the community of Gwanda to do away with discrimination of inmates,” he said.
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