Prison system needs overhaul

Even if ZESA fails or the municipal water is dripping from the taps we can make a plan. But what do our prisoners do? Are God’s eyes not on the state of our prisons and how our government treats it’s prisoners? I was drawn to Matthew Chapter 25: 44-45 where Jesus will judge the nations and where He separates the sheep from the goats. He is telling the goats that when He was hungry and thirsty they gave Him no food and water and that when He was a stranger they did not take Him in nor clothe him when He was naked and they did not visit him when He was sick and in prison.
The goats in turn imply that they never saw Him thirsty, hungry, naked, sick or as a prisoner. And this is Jesus’ reply, “Assuredly I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.”
I believe that every Zimbabwean has become aware of the disgusting and unacceptable state of out jails, the appalling treatment of our prisoners and the dreadful failure of much of our justice system. Many languish in prison on no charge or on trumped up charges or for misdemeanours or for political reasons and in the most terrible conditions and this must stand as an indictment against prison authorities and the government – Zanu (PF) in particular, as it is the former ruling party that has abused our prison system so badly.
I stand amazed that there are those who languish in prison for stealing a chicken to feed their family when the true criminals wander around freely, live in the lap of luxury and continue to plunder our nation and shed innocent blood.
Let the church, business, NGO’s and the public in general rise up to take practical steps to assist where possible and may God bless those that already do. I believe the whole prison system and penal code should be radically overhauled – and soon. There should be a massive clean up in each prison – maybe the politicians themselves should be given a paintbrush and a mop or two – and prisoners should be taken to different grades of prisons in line with their crime and treated accordingly.
Instead of locking up prisoners for most of each day in squalid cells they should be gainfully occupied in growing vegetables, rearing livestock, carpentry, repairs and maintenance and the like. All political prisoners must be set free and every prison must be scoured for those who have never been brought to trial and have no money or family to assist them or are sick and need attention.
I watched a movie recently of a true story in which three young German students are sentenced to death for printing and giving out leaflets protesting certain things during the Nazi era. Before the young woman is beheaded, in her statement during her trial she says these words to her captors, “Where I stand today you will stand tomorrow.” Prophetic? God is watching.
NM, Harare