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Bongani Ndlovu Saturday Leisure Correspondent
WHEN one hears or mentions the phrase prison guard or officer, vivid images of authoritarian persons who are always in no nonsense mood comes to one’s mind.
Images of prisoners toiling at prisons such as Khami Maximum Security Prison, Mlondolozi Women’s Prison and Chikurubi Maximum Security, pop up.
However, this perception will soon be a thing of the past as the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) is rebranding, trying to correct those views.
Recently, ZPCS set up a band, Ntabazinduna Training School Dance Band, which was created after some members from Harare moved to Ntabazinduna base.
The band, headed by Chief Prison Officer (CPO) Walters Masona, had members from Harare relocate to the southern region as part of the ZPCS decentralisation policy.
There was one band that serviced the whole country but was based in Harare, now there will be two. One catering for the northern region and the one based at Ntabazinduna catering for the southern region.
The dance band is made up of 12 members and Prison Officer Grade 2, Phillemon Kwangware leads the vocals.
In an interview with Saturday Leisure recently, CPO Masona said the band had begun teaching the community of Ntabazinduna how to play instruments.
He said this was part of ways of reaching out to the community, thereby showing the lighter side of the prison service.
“The prison and correctional services is viewed with fear by the public. We want to change that perception. That is why we have come up with this programme,” said CPO Masona.
He said the Ntabazinduna Training School Dance Band plays at numerous functions such as weddings, parties and corporate functions.
“We have very competitive rates for our hire. We charge $200 for any function and people can contact me on 0712 234 286. We play all types of music that include jazz, rhumba, gospel and sungura,” said CPO Masona.
He said the band would soon release an album with a mixture of genres as they already have five tracks.
“The band dedicates a day for compositions and everyone in the band is allowed to compose a song that is why you will find different genres in our upcoming album,” said CPO Masona.
He said apart from the Ntabazinduna Training School Dance Band, there was a 65-member brass band that also relocated from Harare.
After all has been said and done, one fact remains, gone are the days when the prison was viewed as a place where criminals are punished. Today’s prison is meant to rehabilitate the offender before re-integration into society.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter