MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU-Once defined by prison walls, Charlton Moyo and Adjust Mpofu are now charting new paths, this time with chickens, not chains.
The two 20-year-olds, recently released from Whawha Young Offenders Prison, have received poultry starter packs, 50 day-old chicks and feed, courtesy of the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA).
The handover held on the outskirts of Gweru, was more than a donation; it was a symbol of second chances, resilience, and the enduring belief that transformation is possible.
“Today we walk into a future we didn’t think possible,” said Mpofu, his voice soft but resolute. “We are transformed. We now understand what we need to do with our lives.”
Their journey began inside prison walls, where instead of being hardened, they were mentored under the guidance of Superintendent Thandani Ndlovu, head of rehabilitation at the facility.
Through a structured programme grounded in financial discipline, spiritual growth, and community values, the young men were reshaped.
“The purpose of Whawha Young Offenders Prison is not to punish, but to rehabilitate and educate,” said Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services Midlands Province Officer Commanding, Commissioner Somemore Gate, during the handover ceremony.
“Our focus now is on equipping inmates with life skills such as farming, which are essential for sustainable reintegration.”
Gate praised the YMCA’s support, describing it as perfectly aligned with the prison service’s mission.
“This is like giving someone a fishing rod instead of fish,” he added, metaphorically capturing the heart of the initiative. “These 50 chicks, if well managed, can multiply into over 200. This is just the beginning.”
The commissioner called on the duo to reinvest their profits wisely, stay away from negative influences, and keep the momentum going.
“I believe these young men are no longer who they were when they came to us. They have changed,” he said, citing other success stories like Knowledge Kurenje, an ex-offender who recently clinched top honours in the Ministry of Tourism’s national gastronomy competition.
Tafadzwa Makore, YMCA Gweru Branch Coordinator, echoed the sentiment of inclusion and long-term support.
“Reintegration is our top priority,” she said. “We aim to make young ex-inmates independent and self-sustainable. We’re leaving no one behind.”
While the chicks represented a new livelihood for the two young men, a different kind of support was also taking shape at the same event.
The Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe, led by Tamary Hove, donated 25 tracksuits, T-shirts, socks, and shoes to inmates who will represent Whawha Young Offenders in the upcoming ZPCS Formal School Sports Tournament in Harare.
“This is part of our ongoing commitment through Prison Ministries,” Hove said. “We want every student athlete to compete with pride and dignity.”
In a society where stigma often shadows ex-offenders, stories like Moyo’s and Mpofu’s are quietly rewriting the narrative.
What began in confinement is now unfolding in courage, community, and the clucking of new life, one chick at a time.
