Africa-Press – Eswatini. As part of His Majesty’s Correctional Services’ corporate social responsibility, benevolent officers from Nhlangano Correctional Centre (NCC) built a house for a destitute Msibi family from Gundvwini under Mbangweni Constituency in the Shiselweni region.
The house was handed over to the family on Tuesday this week. Present during the ceremony was the commissioner general’s representative, Assistant Commissioner Kenneth Dlamini, who is also the stand in regional commissioner for the shiselweni region. Also present were NCC’s Officer in Charge, Assistant Commissioner Elliot Zikalala, other officers and Gundvwini community members.
Before getting the new house, William Msibi (62) lived with his wife Monica (58) and three grandchildren in a dilapidated stick and mud structure. They were identified as a needy family by officers from NCC through, the social work department.
The one room house valued at over E19 000, was built through monthly contributions from the officers’ own pockets.
Giving a background about this initiative, NCC Officer in Charge Elliot Zikalala said that they used to make monthly contributions of E20 each, which they used to buy groceries for the needy people around the area.
They later increased the contributions to E50 per officer with E30 going into the building projects. So far they have constructed three houses for needy families and plan to build more in future.
Zikalala applauded the officers for their generosity, saying he would not want anything to separate him from these kind people. “You have demonstrated a good spirit of helping the less fortunate even in such difficult economic times.
Thanked
“I urge you to continue with this spirit,” he added. Zikalala further thanked the commissioner general and the Gundvwini constituency for supporting them during the project.
The house was constructed by correctional officers from the building and maintenance section. Inmates were also involved in the construction as part of their rehabilitation programme which teaches them skills in building and maintenance works and other trades.
Through such programmes, they learn market oriented skills that will help sustain them after serving their sentences. The commissioner general, LaMakhosini Phindile Dlamini, was short of words in praising the officers for their generosity. She was speaking through Assistant Commissioner Kenneth Dlamini, who said such works of kindness were always encouraged by the department.
Dlamini said officers in all centres were encouraged to take a leaf from NCC.
Dlamini further said one of the department’s core mandates was the rehabilitation of offenders and teaching them vocational skills in various trades.
He then asked the community of Gundvwini to be receptive to ex-offenders when they rejoin them after serving their sentences. “This will make them feel at home and reduce the chance of re-offending,” Dlamini added.
Speaking on behalf of the family, William Msibi said he does not have enough words to thank the Correctional Services. He said the department came at a time when his family was so desperate for a proper roof above their heads.
He also thanked God and asked Him to continue blessing the officers in their works of kindness. Msibi’s words were echoed by the constituency’s representative, Zakhele Mtsetfwa, who said the house would go a long way in making the family feel at home.
He also said there were many destitute people around the area and urged the correctional services to continue helping where they could.
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