For Joshua Zirebwa, who committed a series of robberies in Bulawayo and was incarcerated in Khami Prison, it has been 18 years of remorse, contrition and, above all, a journey of life-changing lessons within Zimbabwe’s prison rehabilitation programs and correctional services.
He was arrested for car theft, armed robbery, and common robbery and was given a heavy sentence for the numerous charges he was convicted of. With each passing day, his hopes of one day becoming a free man are shattered. This is because he witnessed many prisoners being granted amnesty along with some who had committed murders and been sentenced to death. However, he may have to serve his full 52 years because his crime does not fall within the pardon category, a situation he feels the authorities should consider reconsidering.
“I committed these crimes when I was 22 years old. I did not kill anyone but because of the numerous charges against me, I was sentenced to 52 years in prison. I served 18 years, but what hurts me is that when the pardon comes, our category is excluded. Officers know Our behavior over the past 18 years has imprisoned us, but they have no power to recommend a pardon for me. I have seen murderers come to prison and sentenced to death, and after 10 years they were sentenced to life imprisonment and five years benefited from a pardon. But as for me, I have to serve 52 years , which means I will be discharged at 74. If you come here in 10 years, you will find me here, but I was rehabilitated more than a decade ago. “We are appealing to the government to look into this,” Mr. Zireboa said.
Other prisoners at Khami Prison Complex on the outskirts of Bulawayo have appealed to lawmakers to come up with legislation that would fully reintegrate them into society without discrimination of “ex-convicts”. The appeal was amplified by the prisoners yesterday when they had the opportunity to meet a high-level delegation headed by the Deputy Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Lawyer Nobert Mazunguni, who was on a tour to learn about the state of the country. The country’s prisons. Lawyer Mazungonyi was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary of his Ministry, Ms. Vimbai Nyimba, the Commissioner-General of Prisons and Correctional Services of Zimbabwe, Moses Chihobvu and other senior officials.
They completed their tour at Khami Al-Aqsa Prison where inmates had time to interact with officials and express their concerns. It was the Khami Maximum Embubi Prison dance troupe that welcomed the delegation and made an emotional appeal to the delegation through song and dance.
“We want to welcome you to Khami Al-Aqsa Prison, Rehabilitation Centre. We want to appeal to the legislators who were voted into Parliament so that they can stand up for peace and our well-being. To demand our rights as prisoners.
“Our Constitution, Section 56(1) states that all persons are equal before the law and have the right to equal protection and benefit of the law. Women and men have the right to equal treatment, including the right to equal opportunities in the political, economic, cultural and social spheres.
“Every person has the right not to be treated in an unfairly discriminatory manner on the basis of his or her nationality, race, colour, tribe, place of birth, ethnic or social origin, language, class, religious belief, political affiliation or opinion.” , customs, culture, sex, gender, marital status, age, pregnancy, disability, economic or social status, or whether they were born within or outside of marriage. Sunday News
