AN inmate who is on the death row at Chikurubi Maximum
Security Prison recently graduated after the completion of a course in Voice of
Prophecy Bible Study Guides.
The inmate, Jack Sakala, was part of 450 others who last
Thursday were presented with certificates following the completion of the
course which was initiated by the Seventh-Day Adventist Harare City Centre
Church.
The inmates were taken through a course consisting of 26
Bible Study Guides, with examinations covered in six months.
Fourteen others aso received their VOP certificates at an
emotional occasion.
“If the judge knew that we were going to get this Bible
truth before we die, he should have said, I am sentencing you to eternal life,”
said Jack Sakala, exuding some hope.
The graduation ceremony and party was a rare occasion in
which condemned inmates were allowed to mingle with the rest of the inmates.
A prison officer who declined to be named confirmed that it
was very rare to see condemned inmates openly participating at such events.
Addressing people at the graduation ceremony, guest of
honour and Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison Officer-in-Charge Assistant Commissioner
Norbert Chomurenga thanked the SDA Church for promoting spirituality behind
bars.
He said such efforts will assist them in rehabilitating
convicts and prepare them to be good people when they were released back into
the community.
“At this place we have people who have committed serious
crimes and if churches are coming we feel very much relieved because we know
that our boys will be comforted and corrected by the word of God.
“If the gospel is preached it softens their hearts, we have
people who are on death row and most of them are now at ease because of the
word of God. That is why we value our relationships with Christian
denominations,” said Asst Comm Chomurenga.
Asst Comm Chomurenga said the VOP programme comprises
teachings that have power to rehabilitate people.
“What you have done is in line with the Zimbabwe Prisons
and Correctional Service (ZPCS) theme for 2017 which says ‘Correct, empower and
develop’.
“The Government of Zimbabwe strongly encourages the
formation of public-private-partnerships (PPPs) and the coming on board of SDA
has made this possible.
“The SDA City Centre Church is playing a pivotal role in
the preaching of the word of God to the inmates as well as giving material
support in forms of donations of food and non-food items,” he said.
He added that in 2016, 250 inmates from his prison
graduated after completing the VOP course and this year the number has
increased to 450.
“Thank you SDA Church for the continued support in
spiritual, social, economic and physiological rehabilitation of inmates.
“As ZPCS, and Chikurubi Maximum in particular, we are
greatly humbled by this kind of support, without you we could be talking of a
different story altogether.
“Continue to be our pillar and bring us more supporting
programmes of this kind,” said Asst Comm Chomurenga.
He also encouraged the inmates to implement what they
learnt from the 26 lessons.
SDA retired pastor Million Booni also preached about the
importance of earnestly studying the Bible. He said those who have studied it
have been transformed.
Regularly, several Christian denominations visit prisons
around the country donating food and non-foodstuffs. These include the Roman
Catholic, Celebration Church, Zimbabwe Assemblies of God Africa (Zaoga),
Universal Church, Anglican and Methodist Church in Zimbabwe, among many others. sunday mail
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