But after serving a long sentence at Mutare farm prison, Maruta walked out of jail a happy man armed with skills to sustain his life out in the world again. His skills have enabled him to shrug off the outcast tag and be accepted by the society that once despised him.
Maruta is a qualified carpenter and wood processer after completing a course in wood technology at a local firm. He can fend for his family through his income-generating project. All this was made possible through the introduction of the prison internship programme in 2010, which involves giving prisoners the skills to prepare to integrate back into society.
Maruta is one of 207 prisoners in Mutare who benefitted from a Presidential Amnesty programme early this year. “I am happy that I have managed to acquire skills while in prison. I can afford to look after my family through processing wood and selling it to those who want to use it because I have the knowledge,” he said. “When I was arrested and incarcerated I thought it was the end of my world – but I came out with knowledge that I will impart to my children and to society,” said the father of three. “Before I was jailed I just took things for granted. But the programme taught me that if a person is rehabilitated and empowered he or she can be of value to society even after serving a long time in jail.”
Maruta has since received assistance from a local well-wisher to start a small wood processing project in the light industry area and is looking forward to creating employment for youths so that they will not take his route, which led to prison.
Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Service Public Relations Officer for Manicaland, Liberty Mhlanga, confirmed that a number of ex-prisoners had benefited from the internship programme, acquiring skills ranging from hairdressing and wood technology to carpentry and building.
“The programme is bearing fruit as evidenced by the low number of returning prisoners (only seven out of 207)and the high number of those who have started their own projects. Our objective is to rehabilitate convicts and prepare them for a better life. We don’t want them to go back to their old ways,” he said.
During the internship the prisoners earn an allowance as a token of appreciation for their service while those doing agriculture stay at Mutare Farm Prison. “The building project has started with inmates expected to construct some blocks at Rujeko primary school this month,” he added.
A number of corporate partners assist with the programme, including Border Timbers International. But the current economic challenges have seen some projects, including one on poultry, being put on hold.
Post published in: News