Rehabilitation of criminals proved true to a Zvishavane ex-prisoner who recently trapped and apprehended a fugitive that had escaped from jail and took him back to the local prison.
Former prisoner Edward Sibanda and a friend walked away from Zvishavane Prison Family Week celebrations held on Friday last week $100 richer after they captured the wanted prisoner. The money was presented to them by the Zimbabwe Prisons Correctional Services (ZPCS) Provincial Deputy Officer Commanding, Assistant Commissioner Dliwayo at a function witnessed by scores of relatives.
During the Family Week celebrations inmates mingle with their families, friends and members of the public who visit prisons across the country.
Sibanda served time with the wanted prisoner and when he saw the latter drinking beer from a bar in Zvishavane in March this year, he knew he had escaped from prison since his term was still running. Sibanda and Ngonidzashe Shumba waylaid the fugitive as he left the beerhall, apprehended him and took him to Zvishavane Prison.
The wanted fugitive was a Class B prisoner and Class B is someone already serving his sentence.
Southern Region businessman, Dr Clever Pote who is a member of Midlands Province Prisons Advisory Board who was the guest of honour at the function praised Sibanda for his action as it proved that corrective programmes in Zimbabwe’s prisons were effective.
ZPCS Zvishavane officer-in-charge Superintendent Freeman Manatsa said the rearrested prisoner has since been transferred to Whawha Prison.
Dliwayo applauded the stunning effort and encouraged ex-inmates to become responsible citizens when they finish the rehabilitation process.
“Prisons are not meant to punish people but they are correctional and rehabilitation institutions that help one to become a responsible person. Sibanda who went through the process was responsible enough to capture the ‘B’ class inmate and bring him back here so that he may fully undergo the process,” he said.
Zvishavane prison has 106 inmates, 100 males and 6 females. The main objective of the Family Week and ZPCS Day is to form a consolidated approach towards the rehabilitation and re-integration processes in order to reduce high levels of recidivism. It is in support of the African Correctional Services Association
