A goat rearing project at the Gwanda Prison Farm in the Maphane area, sponsored by the National AIDS Council(NAC), is proving to be a force to reckon with as the project has grown to the extent of being expanded into prisons and correctional facilities.
By Kudakwashe Pembere recently in Gwanda
The goat-rearing project commenced in 2015 following a donation by NAC of 83 goats to the prison. Over the years, the project at the prison now has a herd of about 204 and cumulatively the Matebeleland South province now boasts of 327 goats under this project.
A group of journalists from various media houses recently visited the Gwanda Prison Farm during a media familiarization tour of projects being implemented by Nac in Matabeleland South working with a number of partners.
Speaking during the visit, Gwanda Prison Farm manager, Sergeant Joseph Fungai Muranda said inmates were excitedly participating in the goat rearing project and horticultural project.
He said the inmates received training on goat-husbandry from birth till the selling of goats.
In 2015, Nac gave us 80 does and three bucks, the Matabele and Kalahari breed. NAC also assisted us with goat housing and a dip tank to ensure our animals perform optimally. Our herd has since risen to 204 goats. When we initially started the project our aim was to provide protein to the HIV-positive inmates.
“We were then tasked to become a seed centre for these goats. We have managed to give out 92 goats for breeding to various stations around the country. In Matabeleland South we now have 327 goats. We also feed our inmates with these goats. Our breeds are cross boer Matabele and Kalahari,” Sgt Muranda said.
Eyeing a herd of 700 goats at the Prison Farm in five years, Sgt Muranda said they will introduce more breeds to the herd.
He said Nac chips in with feed for the goats. Sgt Muranda noted that some of the goats are sold to buy vaccines and other necessities to ensure the goats’ project performs well.
He said improved care of these goats has helped to reduce deaths. Sgt Muranda also said it has also helped to improve the conception rate.
Goat manure which comes according to Sgt Muranda is used for their crops. Their garden has chomolia, rape, cabbage, butternut and onions.
“The upgrade of the water supply system has helped improve the performance of the crops. We now use a drip system. The garden gets its water from a solar powered borehole. We use the produce that we get from the garden to feed the inmates. We also sell some of the produce while we donate some to Gwanda Provincial Hospital and Gwanda Old People’s Home,” he said.
Officer-in-Charge Gwanda Prison, Superintendent Ishmael Madzimbamutho said the intervention from Nac has helped to complement Government efforts in feeding the inmates.
He said the prison farm was already running a piggery, cattle and turkey project and the goat project has bolstered their animal husbandry.
“As a prison, part of our rehabilitation process involves equipping prisoners with various skills which they can apply once they are out of prison. We have now managed to equip prisoners with goat rearing skills as a result of our partnership with Nac and we are grateful for this intervention. The project has also helped us to improve the diet of the prisoners,” he said.
He said five prisoners were assigned to the goat project at any time.
Gwanda District Aids Coordinator Mrs Alice Moyo said their collaboration with Gwanda Prison began with the HIV related issues lessons. She said they decided to take their intervention further through the introduction of the goat project. Mrs Moyo said the herd has significantly increased over the years with Nac facilitating training of prison officers and inmates.
“As Nac, we also prioritise the diet of those who are HIV-positive. A proper diet generally contributes to their health and enables them to take their medication. The HIV-positive and negative are all benefitting from this project. We also identified a gap in the garden project and we assisted with a jojo tank and piping equipment for a drip irrigation system to assist in the production of crops. This has helped in expanding the land which is being irrigated in the garden,” she said
An inmate who cannot be named for ethical reasons said he was grateful for the knowledge he was receiving on goat rearing from the Gwanda Prison Farm.
He said he would apply the skills and others that he has obtained to sustain his family.
The inmate urged his peers to take the prison skills development training seriously as they seek to empower them as inmates.
“As an inmate, I am so grateful to NAC because, without them, I could not have this knowledge on goat production the same way I have now.
“My wish is that after my sentence, I only left with four months. I would like to start my own goat project so that I will have a source of income. “As I want to tell my fellow inmates that they should pay attention to this goat project because after our sentence we can start our own projects that can sustain our families,” he said
Meanwhile, NAC’s peer-led mentorship programme at Gwanda Prison is bearing fruits as inmates have been equipped with knowledge on HIV-related services which they have grasped.
