Online Reporter
Nothando Zondo [email protected]
WHEN the gates opened at the Matabeleland South Agricultural Show this August, few could have predicted that the province’s correctional service would steal the spotlight. Yet over three days, the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) Matabeleland South Province not only impressed visitors but walked away with two of the show’s most coveted awards — a triumph that spoke volumes about transformation behind prison walls.
First recognised as winner in the Uniformed Forces Category, ZPCS went on to claim the title of Overall Best Exhibitor. The accolade was not simply about presentation; it was a nod to the breadth of agricultural production, livestock projects, and skills‑development programmes now woven into the rehabilitation of inmates across the province.
This year’s show carried the theme “Unlocking Opportunities Through Collaboration”, and ZPCS seized it to demonstrate how correctional institutions are reshaping their role. Beyond custodial duties, they are becoming hubs of agricultural innovation and vocational training, preparing offenders for reintegration into society.
At the heart of the exhibition was the philosophy “From correction to connection: building industries behind and beyond the walls”. It captured the service’s ambition to equip inmates with skills that endure beyond incarceration — from crop production and livestock management to horticulture and value‑addition.
Visitors were guided through displays that revealed not only the scale of these projects but their tangible impact on rehabilitation.
Among those impressed was Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Albert Nguluvhe, who toured the stands and praised the province for its high standards. His message was clear:
“True development and sustainable economic growth are only achievable when we stand united as a people,” he said.
The awards were received on behalf of Officer Commanding Matabeleland South Province Commissioner Cleopas Mzila Moyo by Deputy Officer Commanding Assistant Commissioner Jabulile Mathema. For her, the recognition was the fruit of collective effort.
“This remarkable achievement is a testament to what can be accomplished through discipline, teamwork, and unwavering commitment,” she said.
“I urge all our officers and staff to remain hardworking and focused. Let us not rest on our laurels, but rather use this victory as a stepping stone to reach even greater heights in our daily duties, agricultural endeavours, and our primary mandate of rehabilitating offenders.”
The timing of the awards could not be more fitting. ZPCS is expanding its agricultural footprint and vocational training programmes, positioning farming and skills development as pillars of rehabilitation.
The aim is simple yet profound: to ensure inmates leave correctional facilities with competencies that make them productive members of society.
The success at the show underscored a broader shift. Correctional institutions are increasingly contributing to food security, skills transfer, and community development — roles that extend far beyond their traditional custodial mandate.
Organisers noted that ZPCS’s exhibition stood out for its practical approach, its clear link to community upliftment, and the visible results of inmate training programmes. In a province where agriculture is both livelihood and identity, the correctional service’s display was more than an exhibition; it was a statement of possibility.
