Inmates at Khami Maximum Prison will on Wednesday take part in a one-day arts festival where they will showcase their diverse talents.
According to organisers, participants will be drawn from all the prison complex units.
The festival has been organised by Amakhosi Theatre Arts in collaboration with Khami Prison.
Amakhosi director Cont Mhlanga told NewsDay on Tuesday the arts group had been running workshops with the inmates for the past three years.
“We started working with the inmates three years ago. The project aims to rehabilitate them so that those who take part may enter into the arts full time when they are released,” he said.
“We will work with the winners throughout the year so that we create a solid Khami School of Arts programme”.
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The inmates from the facility will today showcase skills in theatre, music, poetry and dance as well as craft.
Last year, the inmates staged performances at Amakhosi on Saturdays.
“We have decided to hold shows again this year and this time around, the show will be held at Khami Prison Complex. We have received tremendous support for the programme.”
The National Arts Council of Zimbabwe as well as the Bulawayo Arts Forum representetives will attend today’s event.
The inmates at the maximum prison’s holding facility are involved in farming, horticulture, cattle and goat rearing, horse ranching, candle making, tailoring and tinsmithing.
The inmates also do upholstery, motor mechanics and have entertainment groups that hope to eventually secure a recording contract.
The prison is situated about 14km west of Bulawayo.