Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau
THE Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) has embarked on a project to build a secondary school at the WhaWha Prison Complex, which will be the first of its kind in the Midlands Province.
The ZPCS already operates Whawha Primary School, and the new secondary school will provide a seamless transition for pupils to continue their education.
The new school will cater for both inmates and the local community, underscoring the ZPCS’s dedication to rehabilitation, dignity and education.
This is in line with President Mnangagwa’s vision for rehabilitation and reintegration through education, skills development and entrepreneurship.
Furthermore, the project reinforces the national commitment to Education 5.0, which seeks to drive modernisation, innovation, and industrialisation.
The Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Cde Owen Ncube, led the ground breaking ceremony on Friday, signalling the start of the construction of the new secondary school.
He said by supporting the educational needs of prison officers’ dependants and inmates alike, the school will play a crucial role in achieving the organisation’s rehabilitation objectives.
“It is with great pride and joy that I address you at this landmark ground breaking ceremony for WhaWha Secondary School, signalling the commencement of construction works for the first ZPCS Secondary School in the Midlands Province. The ceremony, running under the theme: ‘Building the Future, Transforming Lives’, aligns with President Mnangagwa’s visionary and transformational programmes that focus on rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders through education, skills development, and entrepreneurship introduced during his tenure as the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs,” he said.
Minister Ncube said the construction of Whawha Secondary School remains part of this legacy, illustrated by the Second Republic’s commitment to uplift the livelihoods of marginalised communities through robust infrastructure development in pursuit of quality, accessible, and affordable service delivery as Zimbabwe glides towards the attainment of a prosperous and empowered upper-middle-income society earlier than 2030.
Accordingly, he said, by establishing WhaWha Secondary School, which will serve both inmates and members of the surrounding community, ZPCS has demonstrated enormous desire to propel the Second Republic’s rehabilitation thrust that is anchored by provision of second chances, human dignity and education to unlock potential.
“I applaud the Officer Commanding ZPCS Midlands Province, Commissioner Somemore Gate, indeed with massive support from the Commissioner-General, for the unwavering commitment to transforming the Midlands Province’s Correctional Institutions from centres of confinement into centres of transformation and reintegration,” said Minister Ncube.
He said the WhaWha Young Offenders Prison, which is the only Juvenile Prison in Zimbabwe, offers both primary and secondary education within the institution, thereby allowing young offenders to attend classes with their age mates from the community, a strategy which addresses stigma, improves rehabilitation interventions and promotes reintegration efforts.
“Rehabilitation without education is incomplete. Construction of WhaWha Secondary School speaks to our national commitment to Education 5.0, which positions education as a driver of modernisation, innovation and industrialisation, nurturing a generation of thinkers and providers of goods and services that address community needs and challenges,” he said.
Minister Ncube commended President Mnangagwa for strengthening inclusive and broad-based ownership and administration of schools by embracing beneficial collaboration with the private sector, local authorities and the church fraternity.
Meanwhile, Minister Ncube handed over to Whawha Prison inmates proceeds from the highly successful 2025 Midlands Provincial Independence Ball, comprising mealie-meal, sugar, cooking oil, soap, salt and blankets.
Addressing the inmates, he said the donation supports the comprehensive social safety nets provided by the Second Republic under the able and visionary leadership of President Mnangagwa, as well as the complementary social development programmes spearheaded by the First Lady, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa.
“The First Lady has received regional and international accolades for blankets and food hampers for the elderly and baby wear for pregnant inmates, wellness and free cancer, sugar, diabetes, BP screening, diagnosis, and treatment, nation-wide launch of the school feeding programme, establishment of Amai Mnangagwa Children’s Rehabilitation Centre in Chiredzi and the drug and substance abuse rehabilitation centre in Harare,” he said.
“I, therefore, commend you all for supporting today’s event that illustrates our shared core values of Ubuntu, which uphold assistance for the needy, human dignity, as well as unity, peace and development.”
Addressing the same gathering Commissioner Gate emphasised that the initiative aligns with the Second Republic’s philosophy of leaving no one and no place behind, highlighting the Government’s commitment to expanding access to quality education for all.
“Today marks the beginning of a new chapter for ZPCS. This is not just about brick and mortar but it is building the future of our children and investing in their future,” he said.
“This project supports the development of human capital in line with NDS1.”
