Churches complement inmates’ reformation

Commissioner of Prisons responsible for farms and industry Clement Kainja has said efforts that churches and other religious institutions play in the reformation of inmates in prisons across the country cannot be overemphasised.
Kainja said this last Saturday at Zomba Maximum Prison when members from the Zomba CCAP congregation cheered inmates at the reformatory facility and donated football apparel and foodstuff worth K300 000.
Kainja said excellent correction of convicts starts from rectifying the inner person—the mind and soul—which controls the complete human being.

“The word of God penetrates into the inner parts of these inmates and rehabilitates their causalities until they are totally reformed,” said Kainja.
Quoting from Mathew 25:36, Reverend Reynold Mangisa emphasised on the role religious institutions have on inmates as God cannot come down to care for them.
He said regular visits to prisons inspire and instil hope in the inmates that they are regarded as equally important people in society and enables them [inmates] to reflect on their lives and make informed choices to change their behaviour.
“Let us remember that God uses the Church as an instrument of salvation, as such, let us not give up in meeting the needs of the needy, including inmates,” said Mangisa.
Speaking on behalf of the inmates, Andrew Chiunda applauded the church for efforts it plays at the reformatory facility towards the spiritual, social and physical welfare of the inmates.
During social netball and football games that took place between inmates and church members on the day, the prison’s netball team beat Zomba CCAP Queens 4–1 while in football they drew 2-2.