Chikurubi Maximum Prison on the outskirts of Harare has produced a number of noteworthy gospel musical groups as a result of its rehabilitation programme.

Devine Touch and Tehillah are sponsored by the Seventh-Day Adventist and Roman Catholic churches. They have performed at different platforms, including the Harare Agricultural Show and have recorded several albums under the guidance of the Zimbabwe Prison Services. “Regererai,” a 10-track album, was released in May this year by Tehillah Gospel Choir.

Meanwhile, members of Devine Touch have since been released and are set to record an album this month. “After serving our sentences, we were offered a contract to record at Diamond Studios. We will be starting on September 10,” said one of the ex-detainees, Omberayi Zambuko.

Chief Prison Officer, Priscilla Muchemwa, said inmates who are interested in music are put into the rehabilitation programme. “When a prisoner is admitted, he or she goes through a counseling process where they are initiated into their areas of interest. This way, if an inmate is interested in music he or she is linked to our arts programme,” she said.

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