The Sunday News
Johnsias Mutonhori, Midlands Correspondent
INMATES at Whawha prisons on the outskirts of Gweru had a treat last week when they spent some time with family members after the Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services (ZPCS) arranged a family show for them.
Such events had been banned over the years as the country had put in place measures to minimize gatherings due to Covid-19. Speaking to journalists during the event, Assistant Principal Correctional Officer Tamuka Davira said the family show was a habitual practice where relatives are granted access to reunite with incarcerated family members.
“Today it’s a family reunion. We had the pandemic which barred relatives from outside to visit their relatives. Family reunion is also a therapy in itself. It heals, reduces stress and it relieves family pressures,” he said.
Asst Principal Officer said prisons were now implementing measures which prepare inmates for better life after prison.
“We’re different from old prisons which used to harden the inmates. Right now we are focusing on changing their mindset through imparting skills. Right now our aim is to prepare prisoners to come out with something which they can use when they finally get free.
Some are now holders of academic certificates such as Ordinary Level, diplomas up to University degrees. I call upon all communities to come along and support us through various programmes so that inmates can get accepted in societies after confinement,” he said.
Officer in charge Whawha medium prison, Superintendent Tineyi Mukeredza added that they were working on rehabilitation programmes where they are training inmates practical projects for mindset dynamism.
“We are dwelling in long-term protection which entails that the inmate has to go out a changed person, so we have several rehabilitation activities such as carpentry, motor mechanic, welding, farming, et cetera. An inmate has to go back to the society a changed person and this is what we call re-tabulation.”
He said the prison had three slots annually where it allows family members to visit and have time with inmates without restrictions.
“We have three momentous periods in our calendar where we allow relatives to visit their incarcerated family members. And we don’t put tight restrictions because we want to create a bond between inmates and their relatives.”
The family week became timely and fascinating to both family members and inmates as they got a chance to celebrate Easter Holiday together.
