Ex-Convict Defies Odds, Reclaims Education and Community Respect

A 21-year-old woman who was arrested on her way to school two years ago is fighting to reclaim the life that was abruptly halted when she was jailed on drug-related charges.

Docus Tomboda was just 19 when she was convicted of possessing drugs.  Follow us on our WhatsApp Channel

After spending four months in remand and more time in prison, she is now rebuilding her future and pushing forward with her studies at a local university.

Speaking at a Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) reintegration event in Harare yesterday, Docus said she is determined not to let her past define her.

“I regret the choices I made that led me to prison at such a young age,” she said. 

“I was arrested on my way to school… It was heart-breaking to learn about my academic results while being incarcerated.”

She said many female ex-convicts hide their criminal records out of fear of stigma.

“Some claim they were living abroad rather than face the truth,” she said. 

“I chose a different path.”

Docus said openly acknowledging her prison experience helped her regain acceptance in her community.

“It was tough at first, but with support from my mother and relatives, things changed,” she said. 

“By sharing my experiences, I gained trust and confidence. Everyone is a potential inmate, and I felt it was my duty to warn others.”

She now runs a small business and says she has not faced rejection.

“Elderly people embraced me and local industry leaders supported me,” she added.

Docus credited ZPCS rehabilitation programmes for helping her rebuild her life and urged families of inmates to offer unwavering support.

“I encourage serving inmates to cultivate a teachable spirit and embrace correction for their future,” she said.

A serving inmate at the event said her story “is a beacon of hope” for those still behind bars.

Source –H-Metro