Prison hailed for moulding ex-inmates

ZVISHAVANE Prison has been hailed for successfully rehabilitating inmates as most ex-prisoners from the institution have managed to transform their lives by embarking on income generating projects in the mining town.

Most ex-inmates have turned a new leaf in their lives by being self-reliant using skills honed during their time at the prison.

Zvishavane Prison Officer-in-Charge Superintendent Freeman Manatsa confirmed that rehabilitation projects at the institution have helped many former inmates to carry out income generating activities in the mining town.

Superintendent Manatsa said his institution emphasised the need to make sure ex-inmates are successfully re-integrated into society by teaching them skill to earn an honest living.

“As a station we are providing inmates with skills in areas such as making pots using scrap aluminium, building and gardening,’’ he said.

“We are very happy that quite a number of our ex-inmates have managed to change their lives through pot moulding in this town after completing their terms.

“In Mandava, quite a number of ex-inmates are making a living out of making pots and the project is also assisting in the day-to-day running of this station, which also makes income from that,” said Superintendent Manatsa.

Some of the inmates have also played a part in easing accommodation shortages at the prison by using their skills to build staff houses.

He, however, said Zvishavane Prison wanted another farm that is closer to the institution.