Harare — WHEN David Chakupa (54), an inmate doing time at Chikurubi Farm Prison for stocktheft, was sentenced to nine years in jail, the world seemed to have collapsed on him.

He believed his life was doomed and no longer had meaning and decided to wait for fate to point the direction his new life as a convict would take.

However, a ray of light flickered in his cell one morning when they were called for prayer meetings that led to baptism.

Chakupa said he is a holder of a Degree in Political Administration from the University of Zimbabwe, and was convicted for stocktheft and sentenced to nine years.

He said his imprisonment was a blessing in disguise.

"I thought my life had come to an end when I was jailed. All hope had gone until when members of the Seventh Day Adventist Church visited Chikurubi Farm Prison and shared with us a verse from Isaiah. I decided to turn over a new leaf.

"The verse made me reflect on my past and I decided to be baptised, as the grace of God had kept me alive," said Chakupa.

While others are baptised in rivers and lakes, this particular one was unique as it was done in disused bathtubs.

Other prisoners sat on the floor waiting for their turn to be immersed in the water, symbolising the death of their bitter past and resurrecting with Christ.

In their prison garb, the prisoners sat in the tubs one at a time as their "demons" were "washed away".

Zimbabwe Prison Service acting chaplain-general Superintendent Morgan Dewah said his department was expecting positive results from the baptism of inmates and derived inspiration from Matthew Chapter 28 v 19 which says: "Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptise them in the name of the father, the son and the Holy Ghost."

He said the prison church is no different from others as they preach the same word.

"Our church is ZPS and we preach just like any other church.

"We were established to help in the rehabilitation of offenders, but you will agree with me that the programme would be incomplete if inmates are not baptised.

"The word of God says 'don't you know that all of us who were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death therefore we are buried with . . . if one repents he must be baptised," he said.

Supt Dewah added that the prison church would be working with other denominations and follow-ups are done to evaluate the progress of their work.

"We recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Prison Ministries, which intend to hold workshops with the communities, all churches, well wishers and ZPS," he said.

This would be done to ensure proper follow-up on inmates who would have been released from prison.

"Baptism is derived from a Greek word Baptizo which means to submerge or to overwhelm.

"This means that when one is baptised he is outwardly exposed of an inward public exposure of having died with Christ, buried and rising with him. True baptism is a true symbol of initiation to right of passage," he added.

The baptism of inmates at Chikurubi is a welcome development, as inmates would be cleansed of their sins and surrender their lives to God while on the other hand completes rehabilitation process.

The chairman of Prison Ministries, Rev Noah Pashapa, said the baptism of inmates at Chikurubi was a positive development towards achieving a crime-free environment regardless of the place and time.

"It is commendable that when people repent they get the right of passage whether in prison or not.

"When someone is baptised the way they think, behave and relate become characterised by righteousness.

"Baptism of inmates as a culminating symbol of prophecy of faith and commitment to Christ is a good thing, but the fact that people get baptised does not work like a magic wand which transforms individuals into morally perfect human beings," he said.

But is it not out of desperation that inmates decide to be baptised?

The Zimbabwe Prison Service needs to be realistically hopeful and not idealistically wishful in assuming that everyone who pays his allegiance to God while in prison would not revert back to criminal activities.

That assumption would be wrong as some inmates would be desperate and become so religious during this period of incarceration.

"When inmates are incarcerated they become so desperate and as a result will appear so religious so it would be wrong to say that every inmate who goes through this process would have changed," said Dr Pashapa.

Jameson Mapuranga, who is serving a four-year prison term, disagrees with this fact saying there were many prisoners who had still not decided to repent.

"I have given my life to the Almighty and will definitely not look back," he said.

"I would like to appeal to our friends relatives and well wishers to donate Bibles as we have repented.

" We assure you that we are now law abiding citizens and need the community's support to start a new life," said Mapuranga.

Mashonaland West Anglican Church Bishop Alfred Munyanyi said the ZPS chaplaincy was doing a great job in spreading the word of God and baptising inmates.

He said the chaplain is the suitable person to baptise the inmates despite their denominations and they would choose churches to join when they are released.

"The issue of faith is now between God and the person who received baptism. I say so because the inmates were not forced into baptism but did that voluntarily," said Bishop Munyanyi.

The public received the idea of baptising inmates with sceptism.

Some residents argued saying that the baptism of prisoners was only meant to change their behaviour while in prison.

A rape victim from Mabvuku, who cannot be named to protect her identity, said it was impossible for inmates to completely change and would not trust anyone who has served a prison term.

"I will never trust anyone from prison whether they are baptised or not. It is very difficult for me to forgive the person who raped me. The rape is a permanent scar in my heart even if that person comes from prison claiming to have been 'born again'.

"This religious life will only end when they are released and some will commit offences again," she said

But will prisoners go out there with this scriptural clarity on their lips?

Gerald Pfidzai, an inmate who was arrested for stealing from his employer, said this baptism has made him a different person.

"It is my first time to be baptised and I am so grateful to those who are tirelessly preaching the word of God to us.

"I promise that I will never go against the oath that I have taken today even when I go out and will work for myself and contribute meaningfully to the community and the nation at large.

"I wish people out there would understand the essence of this baptism in spite of the fact that it has been done in prison," he said.

However, people should not lose sight of cultural repercussions as some could have murdered which others believe needed appeasement.

The vice president of Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers' Association, Dr Nelson Jambaya, said the baptism of inmates at Chikurubi was a non-event, as prisoners need a traditional cleansing ceremony, which entails confessing their sins before chiefs and paying the aggrieved families. He strongly warned religious leaders to desist from baptising inmates.

"Pastors should not claim that they could cast the evil spirit of those who have murdered and raped or even stolen because that can only be done by traditional healers.

"In order for one to be forgiven his sins he needs first to confess before chiefs and pay the aggrieved families to appease avenging spirits.

"Confession should not be done in prison as inmates are forced by certain circumstances to submit themselves to those who claim that they would deliver them from avenging spirits.

"True confessions should be done after serving their prison term, face the offended people and if they do not pay, God will judge them," he said.

Dr Jambaya boasted of having some church leaders joining their organisation, which he claims is an indication of his belief's supremacy over Christianity.

"We have Bishop Sherera and others within our ranks because they have discovered that we have more power than them and who said we don't talk to God," he added.

Mrs Janet Moyo of Mufakose believes the process of rehabilitation should not be the prerogative of the ZPS alone but needs combined efforts with society and various organisations to bear fruits.

"Society at large plays an integral part making a successful reintegration of an inmate into society. When prisoners are baptised they need spiritual, material and financial support for them to fit in the society," she said.

ZPS acting public relations officer Elizabeth Banda said the Government should speed up the process of repealing the section in the Prison Act that hinders the organisation from making a follow-up to evaluate their rehabilitation programmes.