Republic of Zimbabwe Vice President Joice Mujuru. Zimbabwe is building relations with other African, Asian and Latin American states to offset the impact of Western sanctions., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.
Vice President Mujuru calls for support for ex-convicts
Wednesday, 16 May 2012 00:00
Felex Share Herald Reporter
THERE is need to support ex-prisoners as their re-integration into the society has economic and social benefits to the country, Vice-President Joice Mujuru has said.
VP Mujuru said allowing ex-convicts to return to jail was costly to the taxpayers as it drained the economy.
She made the remarks in a speech read on her behalf by Minister of State in her office Sylvester Nguni last Saturday in Harare during the launch of the 2012 Prison Outreach and Re-integration Programme.
The launch was held under the theme “Donate a Bible to a Prisoner”.
Said VP Mujuru: “The country has limited resources and offenders should not return to prison once released.
“Often prisoners and ex-offenders grapple with the issues of rejection, not only by society but their relatives as well. Society tends to label them according to the crimes they committed, thus denying them the opportunity to start life on a clean page.”
She said it was also difficult for ex-prisoners to re-enter the job market due to the stigma attached to them.
“This group therefore needs support to enable them to cope with changes in their socio-economic context for them to contribute meaningfully to society.
“Sound re-integration of prisoners into society will help to break the cycle,” she said.
Government, VP Mujuru said, will continue supporting and improving the lives of prisoners through correctional programmes.
“Our aim as Government, through the Zimbabwe Prison Service, is to ensure that all our prisons help to mould prisoners to contribute to society upon release.
“Thus, they are trained in various skills, which they can use for the development of the country. To this end, Government has, in many of our prisons, introduced skills training programmes and business lessons.”
She said a holistic approach was needed to reduce crime.
VP Mujuru urged families of ex-offenders to “care and receive” them back home.
“By so doing we help restore their dignity and self-esteem. Business could also help by employing repentant ex-prisoners so that they can make use of skills acquired in prisons.
“Society and relatives should also regularly visit inmates to encourage and support their efforts to reform,” she said.
The VP said traditional leaders, being custodians of cultural values, had a significant role to play in the reintegration of prisoners back into their rural communities.
“They should take the lead in preaching forgiveness and peace with ex-prisoners who have reformed.
“I am impressed to note that PORA has been active also in rural areas. This is indeed commendable because some organisations tend to focus on urban areas, thus leaving our rural areas where most of the people are,” she said.
PORA patron Dr Desire Sibanda said plans were under way to build a holding centre for ex-prisoners who failed to locate their relatives.
“They will undertake some farming ventures at the centre to promote self-help initiatives.
We are also going to visit prisons regularly and conduct re-integration lessons and raise society’s awareness to forgive and receive repentant ex-prisoners back to their homes,” he said.
PORA, a voluntary organisation, was formed to assist with the re-integration of prisoners back to the society, based on biblical principles.
Sculptor honours Vice President Mujuru
Wednesday, 16 May 2012 00:00
Richmore Tera Arts Correspondent
Zimbabwe Herald
VISUAL artist Kudakwashe Madamombe, son to the late internationally renowned sculptor Colleen Madamombe, has carved a semi-abstract sculpture titled “You Broke My Heart” depicting a grieving Vice President Joice Mujuru following the death of her husband Solomon Mujuru.
The 1,3 metre-tall artifact was carved in opal and resembles the image of VP Mujuru holding a flower as a symbol of her undying love for her late husband who died in an inferno at his Ruzambo Farm in Beatrice.
Kudakwashe (27) said he decided to carve the piece as a tribute to Mai Mujuru and as a way of commiserating with her on her loss.
“To us, Mai Mujuru is like a mother and when she lost her husband we were touched and opted to sculpt this piece which we intend to hand over to her.
“When we see Mai Mujuru, we see an epitome of a true Zimbabwean and African woman who is resilient, strong, courageous and inspirational despite the loss she faced through the death of her husband,” explained Kudakwashe.
He added that he also decided to do the piece together with his two young brothers — Washington (24) and Lewanika (22) — because VP Mujuru, in a big way, reminded them of the principles that their late mother stood for.
“Our mother Colleen (Madamombe) was also committed to women’s rights and the role they play in society. This is the vision that we are taking over and we feel very inspired by the contribution that Mai Mujuru is making in Zimbabwe and on the African continent.
“We have learnt that women too can be successful in all spheres of life,” Kudakwashe said.
The sculpture, that weighs about 1 000 kilogrammes, tells it all, not only in its title, “You Broke My Heart” but also in the posture that the artists rendered in it — that of a sorrowful woman.
It is also a direct expression of how General Mujuru’s untimely death took her by surprise, thus causing her untold suffering.
In the sculpture, VP Mujuru is dressed in a top and skirt that are adorned in heart-shaped and flower designs, two symbols that denote undying love and at the same time, a feeling of mourning.
“Through this sculpture we want generations to come to always remember that there was once a great man and a great woman, who contributed enormously to this country’s history,” he said.
Kudakwashe’s professional sculpting career began in 2002 after finishing high school at Kutama College in Zvimba. But before that, his passion for art had started at an early age during his days at Widdecombe Primary School in Harare, where he would take time away from books to visit his sculpting parents Colleen and father Fabion — who is still alive and based at Chapungu Sculpture Village.
It was then that he started dabbling in art.
His two sisters — Alice (19) and Tsitsi (17) — are fashion designers, a clear indication that art runs in the family.
“It is our aim through our work to keep women’s vision alive,” said Kudakwashe, whose pieces focus mainly on women.
Some of these works include “Woman on Shopping Spree (My Life)”, “Breastfeeding” and “Family Reunion” among others.
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