BY SILAS NKALA
B
y the time the sun rises over Queens Park East in Bulawayo, the residents at the Noah’s Ark Community Correctional Centre are already awake.
Their day begins not with prison sirens or the clang of steel bars, but with prayer.
Around 6:30am, the men gather for morning devotions before dispersing for cleaning duties, gardening, vocational projects, and rehabilitation programmes designed to prepare them for life beyond prison walls.
For many, this church-run facility offers the first real opportunity to rebuild their lives.
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Opened in 2025 as a pilot model for community-based rehabilitation, the Bulawayo Noah’s Ark operates in partnership with the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS).
Located in one of Bulawayo’s oldest and most densely populated suburbs, the centre grew out of years of community outreach by a local church that witnessed firsthand the social conditions driving many into crime.
“We looked at the challenges affecting our communities such as homelessness, unemployment, drug abuse and crime, and asked ourselves what role the church could play,” the centre’s director, Frank Jabson, said.
“Noah’s Ark is not just about correction; it is about restoration.”
Unlike conventional prisons, Noah’s Ark operates without heavy security infrastructure.
There are no towering walls or overcrowded cells.
Residents, not “inmates,” as staff prefer to call them, live in a structured but community-oriented environment focused on reintegration.
“This is a civilian facility,” Jabson explained.
“It is managed by the church, though we work closely with ZPCS officers who provide support and supervision.”
The centre currently accommodates only male residents, with space for about 12 people at a time.
However, demand is growing.
Officials say around 50 inmates have already passed through the programme in different phases, with some successfully reintegrating into society.
“We want to expand, but resources remain a challenge,” Jabson said.
“We need more accommodation and support from stakeholders.”
The philosophy behind Noah’s Ark is simple: incarceration alone cannot solve crime.
The programme focuses on addressing the social and psychological factors that often pull offenders back into criminal activity.
Only selected inmates nearing release are admitted.
“We identify residents who have shown good behaviour in prison, those who are non-violent, and those with less than 12 months before release,” Jabson added.
Equally important is whether the inmate has family support or a community network willing to receive them after release.
“Some inmates become vulnerable because they lose contact with families while incarcerated.
“Reintegration becomes difficult when there is nobody waiting for you outside,” he said.
At Noah’s Ark, rehabilitation goes beyond spiritual counselling.
Residents participate in gardening, shoemaking, poetry, sports, and vocational training aimed at helping them earn a living after release.
Others receive psychosocial support and counselling to address trauma, addiction, and behavioural challenges.
“We are trying to restore dignity and confidence,” Jabson said.
“Many people entering prison already come from broken environments.”
One of the biggest concerns facing the centre and the wider community is drug and substance abuse. Queens Park and surrounding suburbs have seen rising cases of young people abusing crystal meth, broncleer mixtures, and other dangerous substances.
Officials say many offenders entering correctional facilities today have histories linked to substance abuse.
Sinatra Nyathi, Bulawayo Provincial Manager for the National Aids Council (NAC), said drugs are not only fuelling crime but also worsening public health risks.
“If people are under the influence of drugs and substances, it affects adherence to antiretroviral treatment, increases risky behaviour, and contributes to HIV infection,” Nyathi said.
NAC is working with community programmes to strengthen awareness campaigns around substance abuse, HIV prevention, and disease surveillance.
Nyathi said NAC was willing to work with the centre in the near future.
For Jabson, the success of the programme is measured not by statistics alone but by transformed lives.
He recalls visiting former residents after release and finding many trying to rebuild relationships with families, secure employment, and apply skills learned at the centre.
“The first group was a learning curve for us,” Jabson admits.
“But now we are beginning to see positive results. Families are giving encouraging feedback.”
The centre continues monitoring former residents even after release, offering referrals and emotional support where needed.
In a country grappling with prison overcrowding, unemployment, and rising drug abuse, Noah’s Ark offers an alternative approach rooted in community support rather than punishment alone.
And every morning, as residents gather again for prayer before another day of work and rehabilitation, the facility quietly continues its mission of giving people society had nearly given up on another chance to begin again.
Nkosilathi Javangwe, a resident at the centre, said the facility was a blessing, as residents are learning life skills and discipline from centre officials and the ZPCS.
“I believe that when I come out of here, I will be well equipped with the life skills that will enable me to sustain myself and my family,” he said.