LETTICIA MAGOMBO
Jazz musician, Dudu Manhenga, is mobilising financial resources to purchase jerseys and shoes for female prisoners, Business Times can report.
She is asking good Samaritans to donate US$20 each to purchase the clothes.
“If somebody is to give us US$20 we are able to dress one woman in prison with a jersey and with a pair of tennis shoes because it’s very cold,” Manhenga said.
She added: “We found a supplier who is able to do a couple of jerseys for us. The jerseys that are needed in prison are very specific.
“I am sure many people would have come on board had we said pull out a jersey from your wardrobe and give it to us. But why we are asking for money is because there are specific kinds of jerseys that are worn in prison and they cannot be wearing civic clothes.
“So those red and white jerseys are what is needed so that they are easily identifiable.”
Dudu is also asking those that are able to donate tennis shoes, instead of cash to do so as these do not have to be of a specific type.
The invitation is not only limited to individuals but companies as well.
“I am not only encouraging relatives of the prisoners but I am encouraging everyone who can take part to come through and help the prisoners,” she said.
Dudu said the motivation behind the initiative came from her time in prison.
She served 18 months in prison from 2013 for causing the death of a biker in a road accident.
“Having been imprisoned myself at some point in life, I saw how helpless I was because of confinement.
“So I am doing this just purely for the sake of reaching out and touching people’s lives because they are unable to help themselves,” the musician said.
Another motivation emanated from her faith.
“As believers it’s our responsibility to look out for those that are in prison for whatever crime because we can’t totally forget about them, or totally say it’s their fault because we too have been forgiven by God and it is our role to lend forgiveness to others and to reach out to those in prison and offer them the gift of forgiveness.”
Dudu has also helped women prisoners in other ways including the provision of sanitary wear and assistance in providing goods to mothers in jail with their children.
“The donations we have made in the past have been very helpful. On mother’s day we actually went there and brought gifts for the children.
“We collected second hand clothes and diapers among other things. We also went to provide pads for the women.
“In prison I saw women using clothes or pieces of clothes and those are not healthy at all. So at least the provided sanitary wear, will go a long way in ensuring healthier periods. The women were very excited about that.”
She hopes to deliver the donations to the prisoners by July 16, once approval comes from the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services.
Donations of the larger tennis shoes delivered will be given to male prisoners.
