By A Correspondent- General of Prisons Major Paradzai Zimondi (Retired) said there were about 20 000 inmates across the country’s prisons and of these, only 500 were female.

He praised the First Lady’s ongoing empowerment initiatives which he said boded well for national development.

“ . . .  as the ZPCS we are appreciative and indebted to the invaluable cooperation provided by both the local and external partners towards this massive project. Indeed, this is indispensable for ensuring the successful day-to-day operation of the envisaged Female Open Prison,” he said.

“Today’s ceremony signifies the take-off of the much-awaited construction of our first ever state-of-the-art female open prison not only in Zimbabwe, and not only in the Southern African region but also across our African continent. The establishment of the female open prison is in tandem with the transitional shift from the closed prison system into the more open correctional system.”

Minister of State for Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs Appolonia Munzverengwi could not hide her excitement.

“I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart for your unprecedented grace to descend from various places and positions to come for this auspicious occasion in our province. Mashonaland East is overwhelmed by the magnitude of commitment and love that is shown even in the radiance in your faces,” she said.

To kick-start the prison project, Tinmac company owned by Deputy Minister of Youth, Sport, Art and Recreation Tino Machakaire donated five Brahmans, UMAA institute founder Dr Cleopas Kundiona weighed in with $10 000 and Minister Munzverengwi donated two Dorper sheep and two Boer goats.

The ceremony was attended by several Government officials and civic organisations.

-StateMedia