Independent Churches of Zambia (ICOZ) Board Chairperson Bishop David Masupa has called on church mother bodies in the country to take a leading role in the integration of ex-prisoners in society.
And Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) Executive Director Pukuta Mwanza has called on government to put some ex-prisoners of the Farmers Input Support Programme (FISP) as part of their society integration programme.
Bishop Masupa told ZANIS in an interview yesterday that there was an urgent need for church mother bodies to discuss how best they can share responsibilities and help reduce cases of stigma attached to ex-prisoners in society.
He stressed that society’s attitude towards ex-prisoners was usually negative and does not help much in their rehabilitation.
He noted that this makes it easy for ex-prisoners to go back to their old habits and eventually find themselves back in prison.
“The same efforts churches put in to assist inmates while serving their sentences ought to continue even when they are released from prison by providing counselling, and sharing the word of God,” he said.
Bishop Masupa stated that churches should emulate a few church organizations that take care of the inmates’ families while they serve their sentences and also assist them financially to start their lives after prison and counselling services to the ex-prisoners.
He has also called on government to work with the church through the new Ministry of Religious Affairs to ensure that there was coordination in the programmes put in place to alleviate stigma against ex- prisoners in society.
Meanwhile, EFZ Executive Director Pukuta Mwanza, said most of the ex-prisoners acquire agriculture skills while in prisons which could be better applied to contribute to the growth of the agricultural sector in the country.
Reverend Mwanza has since urged both public and private employers to stop despising the idea of employing ex-convicts despite them having acquired special skills in various trades.
He said the development has resulted in most ex-prisoners being jobless and failing to utilize their skills.
Rev. Mwanza explained that the Zambia Correctional Services was doing its best in empowering prisoners with skills as evidenced by the number of prisoners who are receiving skills training.
He added that skills alone were not adequate to sustain ex-prisoners hence the need for government to consider empowering them financially through small loans and also giving them farming inputs.
He has also urged members of the public to welcome the ex-prisoners back in communities and support them in starting and improving their lives.
Do they write Prisoner on the backs to remind each other! Orange is the new Black. Support article, once term is served, there must not be victimisation.