Chikurubi Maximum Prison inmate Tapiwa Makore Snr, whose death sentence was recently commuted to life imprisonment, has expressed optimism about his future and called for the introduction of a “Prisoners for ED”programme in Zimbabwe’s prisons. Speaking during an interaction with Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Permanent Secretary, Vimbai Nyemba, at Chikurubi Maximum Prison in Harare today, Makore Snr said the initiative would encourage rehabilitation, patriotism, and productive engagement among inmates. He praised ongoing government efforts to improve prison conditions and reintegration programmes, saying the reforms had given him renewed hope and purpose.
Makore Snr, who was previously on death row, said his commutation was a sign of “mercy and second chances” under the current administration. He urged fellow inmates to embrace transformation and support national development goals from within correctional facilities. “We may be behind bars, but we are still citizens with a role to play in building our country,” he said. The visit by Permanent Secretary Nyemba formed part of a broader government outreach initiative aimed at assessing prison rehabilitation projects and gathering inmate perspectives on justice and correctional reforms.
