ZPS calls on society to re-integrate prisoners

crime levels.
ZPS deputy commissioner, Rhodes Moyo made the call at a graduation ceremony of 26 pastors at Pan African Christian College in Harare.
The pastors graduated with certificate and advanced certificates in Prison Ministries and will be working with rehabilitation officers and chaplains from the prison service.
Dep Comm Moyo said lack of trust and love towards ex-offenders among members of the society was the main cause for ex-convicts’ recidivism.
“Society should be accept ex-prisoners and encourage a positive mind so that they do not wish to go back to the prison because of lack of neglect,” he said.
He said ZPS was grateful to the Prison Ministries for their effort in equipping pastors with skills that will help them work with inmates, ex-inmates and their families as well as families affected by crime.
“ZPS benefits from such efforts of the re-integration of prisoners into society. Graduands should encourage prisoners to have positive minds. We will remain committed to maintain our relations with the prison ministries to improve various training,” he said.
The course covered subjects such as the overview of human rights in Africa, Restorative and Criminal, Justice, critical thinking in prison context counselling and care in the prison context among others. Dep Comm Moyo urged the graduands to comply with prison regulations when discharging their duties. Speaking at the same function, ex-convict, ZPS chaplain, Mr Killion Rukato stressed the need for relatives of inmates to constantly visit them and show care.
“What those people in prisons need more is not food but love and care. Society should constantly visit the inmates as this helps in their rehabilitation,” he said.