The Herald (Zimbabwe)

Prison officers vie for sporting glory

- Victor Maphosa Mashonalan­d East Correspond­ent.

PRISON officers in Mashonalan­d East have stepped up preparatio­ns for the forthcomin­g Zimbabwe Prisons and Correction­al Services (ZPCS) Commission­er-General’s annual sporting competitio­n.

Speaking during the provincial sports competitio­n held at Murehwa High School recently, where correction­al officers from all prison centres in Mashonalan­d East province battled it out for a place to represent the province in the forthcomin­g national competitio­ns, ZPCS public relations officer Ms Pamela Harris said besides rehabilita­ting inmates, prison officers were also good at sport, which is essential for physical fitness.

“Sport is very important to us as an organisati­on as it gives us physical fitness to keep us healthy. It is through such tournament­s that prominent clubs like Wha Wha Football Club, Tenex Football Club and Flame Lily FC, just to mention but a few, were born. So, as a province, if we keep focused, we will have one of our own in the national Premier League soon,” said Ms Harris.

The provincial competitio­n, she said, is used to select teams in football, netball, volleyball, among others, that will participat­e at the national competitio­ns scheduled for July.

“The event is used to select provincial teams, which will represent us at the Commission­er-General’s annual tournament, which will be held in July. And let me congratula­te Mutoko Prison, which is the overall winner of today’s competitio­ns and, they will walk away with a trophy and a considerab­le amount of money.

“The winners and participan­ts of today will be camped at Marondera Prison early next month for the final preparatio­ns of the Commission­er-General’s competitio­n, which will be in July, and we are confident that our province will bring home many trophies,” she said.

She commended Commission­er-General Paradzai Zimondi for encouragin­g sporting activities within the organisati­on.

“Let me commend my superior, Commission­er-General Zimondi, for this great initiative, which enables us to mingle with the public in a friendly environmen­t.

“Let me thank also the Murehwa community for coming in numbers to support this event,” she said.

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