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Retired Major-General Paradzai Zimondi

David Shumba Herald Reporter

COMMISSIONER-GENERAL of the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service Retired Major-General Paradzai Zimondi has underscored the importance of community involvement in the rehabilitation of offenders to ensure their successful re-integration into society.

Speaking at the handover ceremony of 2 684 blankets worth US$13 000 to ZPCS by Mashonaland East Province, Commissioner-General Zimondi said community participation should complement the efforts of the State in the rehabilitation of inmates.

“Community involvement is very paramount in ensuring that the inmates feel wanted out there which should assist in changing their mindset to live as law-abiding citizens upon their discharge from prisons and correctional centres,” he said.

“Correctional service does not operate in isolation and it requires the involvement of the community in order to effectively achieve its mandate of rehabilitating and successfully reintegrating offenders.”

Com-Gen Zimondi said convicts were sent to prison to be rehabilitated and people should not shun them after their release.

He thanked the Mashonaland East province for the donation.

“This exceptional donation of blankets will go a long way in providing warmth to the inmates, especially during this winter season, thus assisting in making a remarkable change in the lives and welfare of our inmates,” Comm-Gen Zimondi said.

“The donation will help in our endeavours to uphold the United Nations standard minimum  rules for the treatment of offenders through the provision of one of the human basic necessities, that is blankets.”

Marondera Central National Assembly Member Cde Ray Kaukonde said Mashonaland East province was supporting the ZPCS to help it deal with gaps created by budgetary constraints.

“ZPCS made a request to us and we have donated as a province. ZPCS has an open door policy and we decided to give them blankets,” he said.

Budgetary cuts have hit the ZPCS hardest with prisoners sometimes going without blankets, clothes, drugs, water, food or counselling services.