Story by Mthokozisi Dube
INMATES in Bulawayo are set to compete in a newly established football league following the launch of the Behind-the-Walls Football Initiative, a rehabilitation programme spearheaded by the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) in partnership with the Zenzo Moyo Soccer Foundation.
The initiative will see inmates participating under the Bulawayo Inmates Football Association, with organisers viewing sport as a key tool for rehabilitation, personal development and social reintegration.
To mark the partnership, the Zenzo Moyo Soccer Foundation donated football equipment and pledged ongoing support for correctional rehabilitation programmes through sport.
Secretary of the Zenzo Moyo Foundation, Sikhumbuzo Ndebele, said the initiative is designed to create structured sporting opportunities within correctional facilities.
“The purpose of our gathering here today is to witness and commit to a league that will be played within the prison complex. This initiative will aid in the rehabilitation of our inmates.”
ZPCS Officer Commanding Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, Commissioner Mkhulunyelwa Ngwenya, said the programme reflects a shared commitment to transforming lives through sport.
“The Memorandum of Understanding we are signing with the Zenzo Moyo Foundation signifies not just a document, but hope, transformation, and a shared commitment towards building productive and responsible citizens.”
He added that the partnership will help ensure the sustainability of the league and unlock football talent within correctional institutions.
The agreement comes as ZPCS continues to expand its footprint in sport, having established former Premier Soccer League clubs Tenax and Whawha, while inmates are also competing in the Southern Region Division One League.
The Bulawayo Inmates Football League is expected to strengthen ongoing rehabilitation efforts by providing inmates with opportunities for personal growth, discipline and positive social engagement through sport.
