Zimpapers Logo

Manicaland Bureau
PREPARATIONS for the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) Day commemorations scheduled for Saturday at Mutare Farm Prison grounds are at an advanced stage with a number of activities lined up to spice up the event.

ZPCS Manicaland provincial spokesperson Mr Liberty Mhlanga said everything was moving according to script and they were expecting a lot of people to attend the event.

Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs, Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba, is expected to be the guest of honour at the event.

“Preparations are underway and everything is going according to our plans and this year’s event is expected to be bigger and better, he said.

“The importance of the event is to show the role being played by ZPCS in the society, which is derived from its mission statement that speaks of changing prisoners from criminal life by incarcerating, rehabilitating and reintegrating them back into the society. We do this while exercising safe, secure and humane means.”

Mr Mhlanga said they would showcase the roles they played as correctional officers through various exhibitions lined up for the day.

He also said they had planned various entertainment activities, which would also see inmates and other members of the society participating.

“There is going to be exhibitions on how offenders are rehabilitated. These exhibitions are done to give members of the society a clear insight into how the correctional service works. We need members of the society to appreciate how the ZPCS works.

“There is going to be entertainment activities in the form of soccer matches and music,” he said.

Mr Mhlanga said they were still negotiating with top artistes who were expected to perform at the event.

“We are planning to bring musicians like Sulumani Chimbetu, Alick Macheso and Jah Prayzah plus others who are based here in Mutare.

“We are also trying to organise a soccer match between court officials and inmates. The scope behind it is that, we want to show people that inmates appreciate that no one sends another person to jail, but that it is the law, which jails offenders,” he said.