Mimosa has donated a consignment of foodstuffs, stationery, and buckets for inmates at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison, and vowed to continue supporting the institution, Great Dyke News 24 reports.
Speaking during the handover of the consignment today, Mimosa Senior Finance and Admin Manager Edmore Tafirenyika said the handover of foodstuffs reflects the organisation’s care and soft spot for the incarcerated community.
“Our relationship with this institution has seen us avail blankets, hygienic materials, foodstuffs and groceries in the past. We are back today with another consignment of foodstuffs to assist in the dietary need of inmates.
“We are aware that the 2021 to 2022 agricultural season was not as good as expected , so we have thought of the plight of inmates considering the burden on the fiscus in providing food to our prisons. “We know that life in prison is hard, so we have not forgotten the dire needs of the inmates. Our reckoning was that if we could made a difference, we would be glad as Mimosa to have contributed to the good health and wellbeing of inmates here.
“Our message is that even if you are behind bars, society has not abandoned you, in fact, you are still much loved.
“I need also not over-emphasize that as an organisation we value health and wellness in our employees and in the community. Our intervention in health has seen us partnering with local , regional, and national health institutions driven by our Lets Go Zero initiative where we believe zero harm is sustainable,” he said.
He added that they found it prudent to assist the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services as they discharge their mandate of protecting society and rehabilitating offenders for reintegration into society when released.
“Our partnership has blossomed over time and our hearts are touched when we think of the great work you are doing here for inmates who have embraced a second chance in life. Our sincere hope is that as inmates you have seen the need to love life and desist from doing any activities that harm fellow citizens. “As Mimosa we will continue to support Chikurubi prison and all the inmates who find themselves in an unfortunate situation,” he added.
In his acceptance speech, ZPCS chief superintendent Crashwell Mandave expressed gratitude to Mimosa saying other corporate companies should do the same to assist inmates.
“We are very happy that Mimosa is concerned, it is a pleasure to have you , just a mere visit to the prison service means a lot to us and when you bring goodies like what you did today, it’s a blessing to us.
“We received 2 tonnes of maize, 200 hundred plastic buckets, 35 lunch boxes, 500 Eversharp pens, 200 exercise books, 500 pairs of slippers, 72 by 450 mls vaseline,100 bibles, 52 reading books, 50kgs Matemba, 200 kgs instant Maheu, 200 kgs soya mince chunks and 64 liters of cooking oil.
“It is our prayer as the prisons services that we always have people like you, we can not do it alone as l said before we really need your support and these people need to know that those that outside still love them. Can you go and encourage others that there are people who are inside the prison who need support,” he said.
Mimosa has a long standing history of supporting prisons and recently donated painting materials to Connemara prison near Gweru.
