It is generally not easy for ex-prisoners to reintegrate into society as they may not have a starting point for to start a decent and respectable life.
Saturday Dialogue, with Ropafadzo Mapimhidze
While male ex-prisoners easily go back to their wives and children, for the woman, it is a long and arduous process to be accepted back into the social strata.
I recently came across a woman who had been released from Chikurubi Maximum Prison for fraud she committed when she was employed by national airliner Air Zimbabwe.
This happened during the transitional period from Zimdollars to the US$ when she bought tickets in bulk in Zimdollars, which she resold in US dollars, but repaid her employer in Zimdollars.
“It was a scam that was so rampant that time and I was just unlucky to get caught. There were so many illegal deals that were happening. But I was forced to leave a breastfeeding six-month old baby, given no time to arrange as to who would stay with that child, or say bye to my eldest son who is now in Grade 7.
“Things happened so fast. I left my children and husband at our home in Mabvuku to spend the next 240 days at Chikurubi,” 33-year-old Faith Kabambe said.
Her children were taken to her mother, who is a teacher at some local school, which she says was a great relief to her fears. But she, however, faces great challenges with her mum.
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“My mum sees things in black or white. She has given me just three months to sort my life out and then take my children. I don’t know how I will fend for them. Although I live with my husband, intimacy is no longer the same. We are like strangers now since I returned in January this year.
“My husband was not working and I was the breadwinner. There is so much tension in the matrimonial home.”
She suddenly starts shedding tears as she narrates how her friends have also deserted her.
“I was a person who did a lot of business, buying and selling, and would want to start that business again. But no one wants to lend me money. No one wants to help because to them I am a criminal who may not return the money. They see a crook in me and yet I was always at their service when they needed my help.
“So many things have changed out here and I just feel lost. I will never be the same again. My husband says nothing. I am not sure if he fears that I might do something worse or perhaps it’s the embarrassment I might caused for the family.
“I also came face-to-face with Whatsapp, a messaging application that never existed before I went to prison. Everything at home, community and church has changed,” she said.
Rita Nyamupinga, a veteran gender activist who runs a non-governmental organisation that deals with ex-prisoners Female Prisoners Support Trust; said the family was the greatest stumbling block when it comes to reuniting with ex-convicts.
“Kabande’s mother does not want us to talk about her daughter’s matter, but she forgets that she is still and will always be her child. Most female ex-convicts are not so lucky. They find husbands remarried and that friends would have forgotten about them.”
Kabande was trained in house at Air Zimbabwe and worked at the ticketing section from 2000 until May 2012 when she was arrested. “I admit I committed a crime, but I am still the very same person. You dream about so many plans and projects when you are in prison, but I am now stuck.
There could be more than 250 women behind bars who have left children and do not know what their welfare is.
They obviously may be in the rural areas.
“There are women living with HIV and Aids and always wonder what will happen to them when they leave prison. Nobody trusts you with anything when you have been released. And who will employ an ex-convict?” she asks.
Kabande said she has been written off by the world and spends the day at home sitting and gazing in the air space. She says all she did when she was in prison was sing and pray.
“All I want to do is go back to school, at a university, but where will I get money from? Maybe that stigma may just fade away when I have achieved a degree.
“Men who commit crime become celebrities and get accepted with open arms by spouses and family. I had a network of well-oiled friends and associates, but I now only have three people on Whatsapp,” she said. Kabambe says her jail term has taught her not to touch anything that does not belong to her.
“Recently someone left a Bible in church and I debated whether I should take it to the authorities. I left it on the chair. You become so conscious about what people think about taking people’s property and this is mainly because of the treatment I received in prison. “Punishment in prison is collective. One inmate was found with a cellphone and we all got punishment. I had tattoos on my body, which prison authorities said I should remove . . .
“How? Because they are permanent. You are made to undress to nude regardless of age. Prison life is degrading, inhuman and it is one place I would not encourage any woman to land. It’s deadly,” she said.
Rita Nyamupinga urged university authorities around Zimbabwe to offer scholarships to such women because they were still young and had a lot to contribute to Zimbabwe.
“I hope Professor Sadza of the Women’s University in Africa and Professor Primrose Kurasha of Zimbabwe Open University will take up this challenge,” she said.
Kabambe did her “A” levels at Mt Pleasant High School, after having passed her “O”s at Mt St Mary’s Mission School.
She became a temporary teacher for two years before joining Air Zimbabwe.
Is there anyone out there who can come to her rescue? Feedback: [email protected]
