By Mary Makhiringa

Balaka, January 27, Mana: Prison Fellowship in Balaka on Thursday graduated 53 residents with certificates after completing six months vocational training in various programmes at Balaka Half Way House.

Speaking during the graduation, Commissioner for Prisons responsible for Administration and Finance, Clement Kainja said, Malawi Prison Services realizes that Malawi aspires to attain 2063 Agenda through various ways and means such as skills development among others.

Said Kainja: “This is why we are working with Half Way House in reformation and rehabilitation of prisoners who are about to complete their sentence. We are doing this to contribute towards MW 2063 pillars so that all people who are in the prisons should acquire skills to help them earn a living once they are out.” 

Kainja added that Malawi Prison Services intends to extend services provided at Balaka Half Way House to all regions so that many residents should benefit from the vocational skills.

“Let well-wishers, whether the Non-Governmental Organizations or people of good will come forward to assist this course as research has shown that most of the residents who go through the programme are doing better once they go back to the communities,” he added.

Member of parliament for Phalombe East, Robert Mwina said it was his first time to be at the Half Way House to see impressive welding work by his young brother.

“As an MP, I will advocate for more resources to be pumped to Malawi Prison Services so that more places like Balaka Half Way House should provide vocational skills to residents,” he said as families of the graduating residents rejoiced after witnessing new life out of newly acquired skills.

President of the graduating residents, Louis Mwape said he has been in prison for five years and described his life from prison to Balaka Half Way House as the journey that the children of Israel travelled to Canaan which was the promised land.

“We were the condemned, we have seen a lot, we served our sentences, prior to our completion, came this opportunity. It has been a very wonderful transition, we have acquired various skills, and now looking forward to going back to the community to start afresh.

“Whilst here, we were being taught Christian life as such programmes have helped to mold our lives again as we now believe that with God we will succeed. The institution has given us start up tools, which will make our start very easy,” he said.

Executive Director for Prison Fellowship Malawi, Rodrick Zalimba asked the graduating residents to utilize the startup tools accordingly other than selling them.

He expressed hope that the tools will help them to get transformed further and become more productive citizens in their respective communities.