Prisons to host family week

ZIMBABWE Prisons and Correctional Services (Mashonaland East Province) will next month host a family week where inmates will interact with their families and friends, provincial spokesperson Assistant Principal Correctional Officer Pamela Harris has said.

In an interview with The Herald, Assistant Principal Correctional Officer Harris urged members of the public who have relatives in prisons to attend the family week, which will be held from August 13 to 19, at all prisons in the province.

“We are holding a family week for our inmates from August 13 to 19 and we are calling out to members of the public who have relatives or friends in our prison centres to visit them and have a good time together,” she said.

“Preparations are underway to make this day a memorable one, both for our inmates and their families.”

Assistant Principal Correctional Officer Harris said the family week would enable inmates and their relatives to establish a strong bond and to have an understanding of what was happening outside the cells.

“We set aside this week after realising the need for inmates and their relatives to have a strong bond,” she said. “Inmates also must have a clear understanding and knowledge of the outside environment.

Munyaradzi Kereke “This is helpful in preparing them for a life outside prison, after their release. It is also helpful for their rehabilitation process.”

She added that the ZPCS was extending the invitation to churches.

“We have even invited the church to come and fellowship with inmates,” she said. “Our aim is to build a good relationship between inmates and the society and the church is one of the important organs of the society.”

Assistant Principal Correctional Officer Harris said this year’s family week would have different activities compared to last year.

The ZPCS family week was launched last year during which prominent figures like former parliamentarian Munyaradzi Kereke and clergyman Robert Martin Gumbura were allowed to meet their families and friends for the whole day.

Assistant Principal Correctional Officer Harris said this year’s edition would be held at the same time across all the prisons in the country.