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Victor Maphosa Mashonaland East Bureau

Fifteen inmates from Mashonaland East Province’s Marondera prison will tomorrow start a six-month Tree Growing and Care course courtesy of a partnership between the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) and Nyaradzo Group.

Five of the inmates are women drawn from the Marondera open prison.

This is the third group of inmates to benefit from the programme since it was introduced in 2018.

The programme is meant to equip inmates with skills as part of their rehabilitation process, awaiting release.

It is designed to assist them to earn a decent living after serving their jail terms and be productive in the communities they will be re-integrated into and erase a negative perception that members of the communities would be having on them.

Today the 15 inmates toured the Nyaradzo Group Provincial offices in Marondera where they will be receiving their training.

Those who spoke to The Herald in an interview expressed their gratitude for the privilege saying they will not be unproductive citizens once they are freed.