ZPCS Allows Inmate to Attend Mother’s Burial in Humanitarian Move

The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) on Tuesday granted a serving inmate permission to attend the burial of his mother, a move that officials say reflects the institution’s evolving emphasis on rehabilitation and humane corrections.

A five-member team from ZPCS Manicaland Province escorted 36-year-old inmate Tinashe Fifitini from Mutare Remand Prison to Nyamande Village, Chief Saunyama area in Nyanga District, where his mother was laid to rest. The deceased, aged 66, died after suffering from a lung-related illness.

Under tight supervision, Fifitini joined family members and villagers at the funeral, where he was visibly emotional as the coffin was lowered into the grave. He later expressed appreciation for what he described as an unexpected act of compassion by prison authorities.

“I never thought I would be given this opportunity. Being allowed to say goodbye to my mother has restored my sense of dignity. I am thankful and committed to changing my life,” he said.

Fifitini is serving a nine-year sentence at Mutare Remand Prison after being convicted of violating the Wildlife Act and is scheduled for release in 2027.

Addressing mourners at the funeral, ZPCS Provincial Rehabilitation Officer Correctional Officer Grade Three (CO3) Mariga Edwell said the decision was in line with the service’s broader correctional philosophy.

“Rehabilitation goes beyond punishment. It also involves maintaining family connections and respecting the humanity of offenders. These experiences are vital in preparing inmates for reintegration into society,” Edwell said.

The gesture has been cited by ZPCS officials as part of ongoing reforms aimed at transforming the prison system from a punitive model to one centered on correction, rehabilitation, and social reintegration.