The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) on Wednesday hosted a Civil-Military Relations and Civic Education delegation on a guided heritage tour of Harare Central Prison and Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison as part of efforts to preserve Zimbabwe’s liberation history and strengthen collaboration among the country’s security institutions.
Held under the theme “Remembrance, Reflection and the Preservation of National Heritage,” the tour took delegates through historical sites including the Execution Chambers, Incinerator and Grave Site, which were used during the colonial era and remain significant landmarks in Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle.
The delegation was led by Brigadier General Zitterson Gideon Sabeka, Director General for Civil-Military Relations, and included representatives from the Zimbabwe National Army, Air Force of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Republic Police and the President’s Office.
Speaking on behalf of Commissioner-General Dr Moses Cyril Ngawaite Chihobvu, ZPCS Commissioner Christmas Tarwira said the visit was aimed at preserving the country’s history while fostering appreciation of its national heritage.
“As ZPCS, we regard this visit as special because you join us not merely as visitors, but as messengers, researchers and preservers of the proud history of our motherland, Zimbabwe,” said Commissioner Tarwira.
Representatives from the Zimbabwe National Army, Air Force of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Republic Police, the President’s Office and ZPCS pose for a group photograph during the heritage tour of Harare Central Prison and Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison.
He said the correctional service views historical preservation as central to national identity and institutional development.
“As custodians of national security, we recognize that history is the foundation upon which the future of our country is built. Through this tour, our guides will lead you in revisiting a difficult chapter of our past and in appreciating how that history has shaped the modern ZPCS and its mandate in corrections and rehabilitation,” he said.
The tour focused on sites associated with colonial-era executions, providing delegates with historical context on Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle and the evolution of the country’s correctional system.
Commissioner Tarwira said the initiative would also strengthen relations between ZPCS, other security agencies and communities through a shared understanding of the country’s historical heritage.
“We believe this experience will deepen the bond between Prisons, other Security Services, our communities and our shared heritage as a nation. We look forward to meaningful engagements and stronger partnership within our organisations,” he said.
The heritage tour forms part of ongoing civil-military relations and civic education initiatives aimed at promoting national unity, preserving historical sites and enhancing cooperation among Zimbabwe’s security institutions while educating stakeholders on the country’s liberation history.
