ZPCS courts partners

Manicaland Correspondent
Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) in Manicaland has engaged stakeholders as it seeks partners who will help in marketing various products being produced at Mutare Farm Prison.

The service embarked on a citrus project from which they are expecting to earn $1 million as well as several other projects that are set to benefit 414 inmates.

Speaking during ZPCS tour recently, deputy officer-in-charge Mutare Farm Prison and chief correctional officer Mr Wallace Mbanje said the inmates were undertaking various projects aimed at generating income and developing their skills.

“We are doing citrus project which is one of the main projects that we undertake as ZPCS in efforts to encourage tree planting throughout the country,” he said. “Some of these projects are intended to feed the inmates, to assist them once they get out of prison and to generate income.

“We have planted 44 000 citrus seeds and this project started sometime in 2017. We are expecting to earn $1 million from these citrus seeds if we find buyers. We also have a variety of exotic trees at various stages of growing like avocado and mango to supplement the main project.”

Mr Mbanje said Forestry Commission Training Centre (FITC) had promised to help them market their products but they needed more partners to enable them to reach a wider network of potential buyers.

Mutare Farm Prison manager, assistant principal correctional officer Mr Isaac Sibiya said the inmates were also doing other agricultural activities.

“Currently, we have 29 rabbits and 100 broilers. Inmates are getting skills on how to do poultry and this has a direct benefit on their nutrition,” he said. “We also slaughter the chickens for them. The rabbits project also helps them with some income when they leave.

The citrus project was started easily without commercial seeds. We picked rotten lemons in Sakubva and took all the seeds in them and planted them. We are trying to show the inmates that you can make money out of rubbish so that you can earn a peaceful living.”