ZPCS transformation earns praise at CUT research conference

Sikhumbuzo Moyo
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THE Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) has been commended for transforming correctional institutions from centres of incarceration into hubs of rehabilitation, innovation and skills development.
Speaking at the official opening of the Sixth Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) International Research Conference, Deputy Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Simelisizwe Sibanda, said the transformation taking place within the correctional services sector was contributing to national development and social reintegration.
The conference, where ZPCS is the Platinum Sponsor, is being held under the theme, “The Technology–Enterprise Nexus: Partnering for Innovation, Rural Industrialisation and Community Impact,” and coincides with CUT’s Silver Jubilee celebrations marking 25 years of academic excellence, research and innovation.
Deputy Minister Sibanda said he was encouraged by the strides being made by ZPCS in offender rehabilitation and reintegration.
“I am pleased that prisons in Zimbabwe are no longer known merely as places of confinement but as institutions that are transforming lives and contributing to national development,” he said.
The Commissioner-General of ZPCS, Moses Chihobvu, was represented at the conference by Commissioner Responsible for Human Capital Management and Gender Services, Commissioner Sikhulekile Ndlovu, who delivered the Commissioner-General’s solidarity remarks.
Commissioner Ndlovu said it was a privilege to represent the Commissioner-General, whose academic journey also passed through CUT.
In his speech, Dr Chihobvu congratulated the university for championing research, innovation and technological development, describing education as a critical investment in Zimbabwe’s future.
He said the conference theme resonated with the transformation agenda being pursued by ZPCS.
“Our philosophy is that correction should not simply confine offenders but should transform lives by restoring dignity, developing skills and preparing individuals to become productive citizens,” read part of the Commissioner-General’s speech.
Dr Chihobvu highlighted the growing partnership between ZPCS and CUT, particularly through the Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Correctional Service Management offered at the ZPCS Staff College.
He said stronger collaboration between the two institutions could unlock opportunities in research, agriculture, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, prison industries and infrastructure development.
The conference also provided ZPCS with an opportunity to showcase innovations under its exhibition themed, “Smart Waste, Smart Waves, Smart Correction: Digital and Green Solutions for Zimbabwe.”
Among the major attractions at the exhibition is The Bridge FM, a correctional radio station established through a partnership between ZPCS and Corporate Chaplaincy Services at a correctional facility where the gallows once stood.
The exhibition also features products manufactured by inmates from recycled cardboard, plastics, sacks and used tyres, demonstrating how rehabilitation programmes can promote entrepreneurship while supporting environmental sustainability.
Participants at the conference said the collaboration between universities and correctional institutions highlights the importance of partnerships in generating practical solutions that improve lives, strengthen communities and contribute to the country’s development agenda.