16 inmates receive farming certificates
July 11, 2016 in National, News
SIXTEEN inmates at Banket Semi-Open Prison last week received farming certificates after undergoing a training programme jointly organised by the Tobacco Research Board and Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) to facilitate their reintegration back into society.
BY NUNURAI JENA
Speaking at the graduation ceremony in Banket last week, ZPCS deputy commissioner-general Moses Chihobvu appealed to government to employ the soon-to-be-released inmates.
Chihobvu also appealed to society not to discriminate against ex-convicts and urged the graduands to behave professionally in their respective communities after release.
“It is disturbing that some sectors of the community are still shrouded with some forms of discrimination, stigmatisation and labelling that deter progress that would have been realised in transforming inmates’ behaviour,” he said. “Let me also take this opportunity to urge the 16 graduands to behave professionally in their respective communities after release from prison. Society might continue to inscribe you as a permanent prisoner, but let that only exist in their minds and prove otherwise.”
The 16 joined the other 179 inmates that have benefited from similar training programmes since 2008.