SHURUGWI – River Valley Properties (RVP) has handed over an officers’ barrack it renovated and an
assortment of goods to Shurugwi Female Prison, which currently has 27 inmates and two babies.
The company’s chief executive officer Dr Smelly Dube also pledged to drill a borehole for the
institution after a request from the officer in charge, Wadzanyi Zimunya putting the combined costs
to around US$10 000.
The officers’ barracks comprising five compartments had collapsed and were no longer habitable.
Renovations were completed by RVP in one month.
Dube handed over sugar, rice, mealie meal, chickens, milk, soap, tissues, paint, tracksuits, blankets
and other food stuffs. She also donated US$1 000 towards the construction of a pre-school for the
institution’s staff members and inmates’ children.
Shurugwi traditional leaders Chiefs Banga, Ndanga, Mapanzure and Nhema received designer winter
jackets.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Dube said RVP has a long-standing relationship with the
Shurugwi community especially Shurugwi Female Prison.
“Today we are here to hand over a staff block which we renovated and we are also going to donate
paint for the whole complex so that we improve on the outlook of our Prison,” she said.
She said RVP has in the past supported most of the prison’s events like Christmas celebrations with
inmates and their children as well as donating food hampers to staff on a quarterly basis.
Shurugwi Female Prison Officer In Charge Wadzanai Zimunya said RVP had chosen to stand by both
Shurugwi prison officers and inmates just as they have done with other deserving cases in Shurugwi
and other places.
“This is a typical example of a woman providing for other women,” she said.
Zimunya however, said the prison cannot be perennial beggars and through requisite resources can
be able to assist other vulnerable groups like old people’s homes and orphanages.
Her appeal for a water source so that they venture into a horticulture project was solved instantly by
Dube who pledged to drill a borehole at the institution.
Inmate Farai Moyo said some of them have been disowned by relatives and the love shown by Dube
would help their reformation process.
Local businessman Nicholas Gara donated a tonne of maize to the institution.
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