13 Dec 2023

Adopting an optimistic outlook empowers inmates to actively pursue opportunities for personal growth and enhance their mental and emotional wellbeing, all of which have major impact on the success of their reintegration into the society.

This was said by Botswana Prisons Service (BPS) deputy commissioner, Mr Anthony Mokento at the FNBB Foundation’s aquaponics project handover to the women’s prison facility in Gaborone on Tuesday.

The aquaponics system, which  was worth over P200 000, included a vegetable garden, fish pond and solar system.

Mr Mokento therefore urged inmates to maintain a positive mindset shift throughout their rehabilitation process for reintegration back into the society.

“The primary goal of prisons is to successfully reintegrate rehabilitated prisoners back into the society. Having a positive outlook is crucial for prisoners to accept accountability for their deeds, pledge to personal development, and make changes that will help reduce the rate of re-offending,” he said.

He added that by adopting an optimistic outlook, prisoners could actively participate in therapy, education and rehabilitation programmes and be completely transformed.

He said prisoners who adopted an optimistic mindset could also strengthen their bonds with friends and family, create a network of support that would help them successfully reintegrate back into the society and make substantial contribution to community building initiatives.

“More than 400 ex-convicts have been sent back to the community for reintegration and we are pleased to learn that they have easily adapted to the outside world with ease and thus doing well,” he said.

Furthermore, Mr Mokento appreciated the donation, saying it was a historic moment that would continuously empower women in prison with self-sufficiency and enduring skills, even during their incarcerations.

For her part, the Women’s Prisons Facility officer-in-charge, Senior Superintendent Agnes Kwati said it was crucial to give prisoners practical skills that they could use to support themselves after serving their terms.

She said the skills served as a springboard for new beginnings for ex-offenders and also boosted the self-worth and confidence ex-convicts sorely needed to face the outside world.

“Achieving goals and picking up new skills can greatly increase an inmate’s self-confidence. This increased self-worth can be crucial in assisting them in rebuilding their lives and keeping a positive attitude after release,” she said.

Handing over the project, FNBB Foundation chairperson, Ms Myrah Sekgororoane said over the years, the bank had remained true to its commitment to upholding social corporate responsibility.

Ms Sekgororoane said FNBB Foundation prioritised issues related to social welfare, commercialisation, sport development, environmental sustainability, youth empowerment as well as arts and culture.

She said the donation at women’s prisons facility was a brainchild of the Riverwalk, Industrial and First Place FNBB branches.

She expressed hope that the donation would provide women incarcerated with an opportunity to learn new farming techniques that they would find inspiring and successfully apply following their release from prison.

Meanwhile, FNBB Foundation had, since inception in 2004, invested a total of P74 million in community building projects across the country. ENDS