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A new life in jail . . . An inmate with a two-day-old baby at Chikurubi Female Prison

Problem Masawu
Often people forget the value of freedom, the only time they think of it is when they are bedridden or incarcerated. Imagine being watched almost every minute. However, freedom comes with responsibilities; many people tend to abuse their freedom and the law takes its course.

Freedom is defined as the power or right to act, speak or think as one wants. When one becomes a danger to himself or the person next to him, then the long arm of the law will remove that freedom.

Saturday Lifestyle visited prisoners at Chikurubi Female Prison and Chikurubi Farm Prison. Most of the prisoners seem to have accepted their fate while waiting for their release.

“I think the counselling and serving my sentence gave a sense of belonging. When I go out I will be a responsible citizen,” said Tariro.
What was striking was the carefree attitude shown by the inmates. Most of them were in a jovial mood singing and sharing jokes with other inmates.

While women are known for their sense of fashion, it is not the case in prison. Most of the prisoners plait their hair or prefer to go bald. The prison garb makes them all look the same.

There are no beds to talk about as prisoners sleep on the floor and in one of the cells there 26 inmates. However, this does not dampen the morale. Those on life sentence have made the prison their home while those who are about to be freed cannot wait for the day.

“We have come to accept that we wronged the society and this is a way to pay our dues,” said Monica, another prisoner. However, though the prison life is tough, all hope is not lost; some have made inroads to become responsible citizens preparing for their day of freedom.

The prisoners are taught life skills and some of them have become experts in sewing, gardening and other manual jobs. At Chikurubi Farm Prison prisoners are taught farming and welding among other life skills. Even behind bars, those who are about to be discharged enjoy a bit of liberty and these are the ones who are seen serving their sentences outside the prison walls on external labour.

However, it is a different story at Harare Central Prison where security is of paramount importance. There are many gates that are always locked and the 1 500 plus prisoners are always under the watchful eye of prison officers.

The prisoners are kept in cells in singles or threes, never two a decision prison officials say was made for their security. Gone are days when the prisoners were treated as outcasts or slaves.

Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services are emphasising rehabilitation not punishment.
“Being kept in the prison is already a punishment; these days we are concentrating on rehabilitations and correctional measures,” said ZPCS Commisioner-General Retired Major- General Paradzai Zimondi.

He said the prisons had enough food.
“We have several farms dotted around the country that supply food to prisoners. We also have labour (inmates) to work on the farms. Prisoners who are outside Harare are much secure because they eat what they grow on their pieces of land,” he said.

Retired Major-General Zimondi said the national granary supplies food to the prisoners. The prison service follows a universal dietary scale for prisoners.

“The national granary is importing food from neighbouring countries and as the prison services we had our allocation. So there is no fear that prisoners will suffer from hunger.

“We follow the dietary scale for the inmates; for example if we cannot have meat in the prisons we will look for substitutes such as beans with oils,” he said.

However, he said lack of resources was hampering some of the prison’s projects.