Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
THE soul is restored to its proper place through virtue, and virtue is acquired through learning and practice – and such is an inspiring tale of redemption for Terrence Masiiwa (28) and Diniza Matewu (33) – prisoners who have transformed their lives behind bars.
Through a partnership between Mutare Polytechnic and Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services’ Mutare Farm Prison, the two have acquired skills in farming, piggery and entrepreneurship, turning their imprisonment into a stepping stone for future success.
Masiiwa and Matewu were both convicted of contravening the Postal and Telecommunications Act, and serving seven-year jail terms.
Instead of wasting their time being idle, the two took advantage of the opportunity to learn and rehabilitate themselves.
Masiiwa, who will be released in 2028, has set his sight on contributing to the nation’s economic growth and development through piggery and entrepreneurship.
“This is my third year serving my prison term, but I am not just wasting time as my release date draws closer. I am taking advantage of every opportunity that I can get her to learn and advance myself. I want to be rehabilitated into a better productive person upon my release. I volunteered for the entrepreneurship and small business management training programme because I always wanted to venture into business. I look forward to starting a piggery project and employing my fellow community members,” he said.
Masiiwa said his goal is to contribute to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) through high impact projects upon his release.
“I have volunteered to be empowered in any way possible while behind bars in the hope that the community that raised me will welcome and embrace me upon release, seeing me as someone who can be productive than a burden to them,” he said.
Masiiwa cannot wait for his release, being pregnant with lots of ideas, initiatives and insights to share with both his family and community regarding income generating projects and their management.
Diniza Matewu
“This training is very important to me because before my imprisonment I had no opportunity to pursue further studies after my secondary education. Being in prison came as a blessing in disguise to me because I have acquired a formal qualification which I will effectively use to benefit my family and community,” he said, adding that when he first entered the prison gates he thought he was going to be punished.
He is glad he has been effectively rehabilitated.
On the other hand, Matewu, who will be out in 2027, is eager to apply the skills he acquired during his jail time by venturing into farming.
“We were taught how best we can contribute to the GDP. That cannot be done through stealing, but through production and productivity. I previously did not hold any academic qualifications, but I now have a certificate in entrepreneurship and small business management. I am grateful for this opportunity and ready to start my own business upon release.
“I previously had a passion for farming, but did not know how and where to start. Now I have been taught farming, business management and entrepreneurship, I am ready to start my own business,” he said.
Their story is part of the 19 other prison inmates at Mutare Farm Prison who last week graduated from the same courses as evidence to the rehabilitation thrust adopted by Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services.
ZPCS’ officer commanding Manicaland Province, Commissioner Spetosomusa Chinobva Moyo said they have realised the importance of rehabilitation and skill development to equip inmates with requisite skills to become law abiding citizens upon release.
“The stories of Masiiwa and Matewu is a reminder that rehabilitation is possible, even in the most unlikely of places. As they prepare to rejoin the society, they are now driven by the desire to make a positive impact and contribute to the economy. That is what we want all our inmates to do upon release,” she said.
One such initiative is the ZPCS partnership with Mutare Polytechnic.
Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza said the programme has, not only provided prison inmates with skills, but also given them a sense of purpose and hope for a better future.
He also said rehabilitating prisoners and equipping them with skills for their after prison experience shows that the correctional service provider is actively contributing towards the attainment of an upper middle income economy by 2030.
Minister Mugadza commended ZPCS for its efforts in rehabilitating inmates and equipping them with skills for reintegration into society through partnerships with educational institutions.
He said the inmates will leave prison empowered with skills and knowledge.
“It is appreciable that prisoners are leaving prison walls well equipped and as better people who are progressive. The skills upliftment of the inmates is a crucial psychosocial rehabilitation process. ZPCS has immensely achieved on the incarceration front, and of late embarked on a paradigm shift from being punitive to correctional in approach. This has seen the escalation of rehabilitative activities in our correctional institutions. Rehabilitation in itself is broad as each incarcerated individual requires a unique rehabilitation model,” he said.
Terrence Masiiwa
Masiiwa and Matewu were part of 21 inmates and four prison officers from Mutare Farm Prison who recently graduated with certificates in entrepreneurship and small business management.
They were trained for free.
Mutare Polytechnic vice-principal, Dr Stefani Chabwera said the programme aims at providing equal skills to inmates for self-reliance and job creation; aligns with Government’s Vision 2030, and has already seen over 31 000 students graduate in various fields across Manicaland.
“In line with the objectives of job creation and self-reliance and employment, Mutare Polytechnic embarked on programmes that will fit in well with the training of youths for the informal sector. The inmates here are part of those youths and with skills empowerment, we know that they will be able to start and manage self-help projects in the comfort of their environments once they are released,” he said.
Dr Chabwera said once the inmates are released, the college will monitor their progress by offering them Start Your Business (SYB) and Improve Your Business (IYB) toolkits so that they can run effective business ventures.
