CASES of people, who go out of their way to help ex-convicts and inmates with life skills, are quite refreshing.
It’s a clear indication we still have Good Samaritans, with genuine love, among us.
Some of these volunteers are former inmates/ex-convicts, retired correctional officers and influencers.
Others come from the corporate world.
Besides the help inmates get from correctional officers during rehabilitation, they need to be empowered with life skills for their benefit.
This will make them feel loved and progressive as they are integrated into society.
It is quite disappointing when ex-convicts, who would have served their time, quickly return to prison, after being released.
All this can be easily avoided if ex-convicts are empowered with various life skills so that they shun criminal activities when released.
This week, we carried a moving story of a former correctional officer, James Jani, who has vowed to go out of his way to assist ex-convicts not return to prison.
The retired prison warden is even planning to sell his residential stand to help ex-convicts keep themselves far away from crime after they have been released.
The man, who founded the Chikurubi choral group Divine Choir, has placed his 2000 square metre residential stand on sale.
He told this publication that he intends to raise money to help ex-convicts start new projects.
Jani, who helped several inmates engage in arts activities like drama during his 29 years of service, believes he still has plenty to offer.
Lack of funding remains his biggest setback and he has vowed to sell his residential stand.
He claims he has plenty on his mind but he has exhausted his pension, which he received 10 years ago.
To ensure that he realises his dream, Jani needs the support of the corporate world to ensure that his ideas bear fruits.
His commitment towards helping ex-convicts is a calling, which should be allowed to bear fruit.
This should be a perfect time for partners to come on board and help him.
He has demonstrated his true calling to assist ex-convicts who feel unwanted after committing serious offences.
However, Jani should have a clear plan so that he gets partners coming on board.
Although he has expressed his desire to help others, it should be done in a transparent manner, which does not court controversy.
The former prison officer needs to show transparency so that he won’t be taken as someone on a fund-raising mission.
It’s very clear that he is a good man and he has his heart in this project.
But, we know that there will always be those who question such noble initiatives.
We also know that many people are willing to assist such ‘Good Samaritans’ and we urge them to come on board and help this good man.
Those who are serving time in our prison set-ups deserve a second chance and that is why our system is about rehabilitation rather than just punishment.