Story by Tamuka Charakupa
THE Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) is leading a successful inmates rehabilitation programme which has seen many excelling in different ventures after serving time behind bars.
ZBC News profiled one such example: Bernard Benneti, a 37-year-old inmate at Chinhoyi Prison Farm, who has emerged as a beacon of hope and a symbol of meaningful rehabilitation.
Often viewed solely as institutions of punishment, Zimbabwe’s correctional facilities are steadily redefining their purpose, nurturing reform and growth through structured, hands-on training.
Benneti, originally from the Kutama area in Zvimba, was convicted of unlawful entry four years ago, a crime he committed out of desperation to support his siblings following the death of their parents.
“Our parents died when we were very young, so I was the one taking care of my siblings, yet I was not employed. Life got tough, and I ran out of options, which led me to the path of crime. I was convicted for unlawful entry and sentenced, and now currently serving four years.”
In prison, Benneti has reformed and now he is a leader among fellow inmates, a remarkable transformation which has earned him a blue stage rank, awarded by the prison authorities for good behaviour.
Through counselling and rehabilitation programmes, he developed a passion for farming, and today, he is leading horticulture ventures at the facility.
“While prison is not a good place to be, there are some positive attributes which inmates can tap into. I wanted to learn a life skill, so I chose farming. The authorities here saw the passion in me and they allowed me to lead, and during my stay here, we have been producing more than the prison needs, selling surplus to the local community. My warning to those on the other side is to find something to do and not end up in prison because you lose valuable time of your life serving an unworthy sentence.”
Because of his new passion, prison authorities have since engaged Benneti’s community leaders in Zvimba for a piece of land for his horticultural projects as they prepare his reintegration.
“This is what rehabilitation should look like. We do not just punish, but we help rebuild. As ZPCS, resources permitting, we want to ensure that reformed and passionate inmates are supported enough with starter packs so that they earn a living outside crime from the skills that they would have attained here,” Officer in Charge, Chinhoyi Farm Prison,
Superintendent Gilbert Mavhako said.
For many, prison marks the end, but for people like Benneti, it is a place that provides a learning curve which inspires growth.
