Mr Dumisani Nkomo Rutendo Nyeve, Sunday News Reporter
“DEGREE mshimani,” bellows an immaculately dressed pastor, his voice echoing from within the prison walls of Khami Remand Prison (formally Khami Maximum Prison) and in unison, as if responding to their jailer, the inmates respond immediately, “Zato!”
To many, this might be dismissed as an alien language, but for anyone, who has been in the confines of prison walls, this is a phrase — the jargon used by a new inmate in a cell as he calls for attention from his cellmates, in order to narrate what would have brought him to prison.
This unique style of preaching, where he uses prison language to capture the attention of inmates, has been adopted by Mr Dumisani Nkomo, a former hard-core criminal, who has transformed his life and is now into prison ministry.
Mr Nkomo, who ministers at the Selbourne Park Seventh Day Adventist Church, narrated his life story that reads like a gripping tale of despair, transformation and redemption.
The former inmate founded Jesus Behind Bars in 1998 — a ministry dedicated to rehabilitating inmates and reintegrating them into society
To date, the ministry has baptised over 6 000 inmates and helped many rebuild their lives post-release. In an interview with Sunday News, Mr Nkomo revealed he was born in Lukadzi, Matobo District. He never knew his father and grew up under the care of his grandmother.
The absence of parental guidance set him on a dangerous path, one that led to crime, prison and ultimately a profound spiritual awakening that of-course came a little later.
“I was born in Lukadzi, Matobo. I do not know my biological father, so I grew up without that parental guidance. I grew up under the guardianship of my grandmother. Not having proper guidance disturbed me a lot and it still is. I still believe that people involved in crime are those who lacked guidance,” he said.
As a young man, Mr Nkomo moved to Bulawayo where survival meant living on the streets. He crushed into buildings, including the popular Bradlows Building, hiding in toilets after hours. With no support system, he turned to crime, doing anything to survive. He ventured into theft, armed robbery and stealing from cars.
“When I came to Bulawayo, I started being a gangster, living on the streets. I engaged in all sorts of crimes, from theft, armed robberies, theft from cars and anything that would allow me to get money,” said Mr Nkomo.
His criminal activities led to repeated arrests and by 1986 he was in and out of prison. Over time, he became a hardened criminal, specialising in high-risk robberies. His life seemed destined for destruction until a letter from a stranger changed everything. While serving a 14-year sentence, a stranger wrote to him saying “Jesus loves you”, a message that eventually struck a chord.
“I took it lightly, but eventually it sunk in and I decided that I now want to be a Christian,” said Mr Nkomo.
Though raised in a Christian family, he had never taken faith seriously until then. On his release in 1996, Mr Nkomo faced the harsh reality of societal rejection, a common plight for ex-convicts that often pushes them back into crime.
“When I was released after 14 years, no one accepted me in society, which is why I think others end up committing other offences and going back to prison,” he said.
However, a compassionate pastor, Lameck Ncube of Nketa, gave him a chance. He was advised by others that I was a dangerous criminal, who had the potential to harm him and eventually he let me go.
A couple, which he identified as Mr and Mrs Mangotsha from Manningdale took him in. He worked as a gardener, a poultry farmer and eventually as a security guard, before securing employment with the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.
“From there, my life changed drastically and that is when I believed that an ex-convict can actually transform into a better person,” said Mr Nkomo.
In 1998, Mr Nkomo founded Jesus Behind Bars despite scepticism and resistance from those who believed criminals were beyond redemption. He was resilient. He persisted.
“People are against visiting and helping someone who offended them. However, my personal experience fuels my mission. I speak their language and I understand their needs,” said Mr Nkomo.
To date, the ministry has baptised over 6 000 inmates and helped many rebuild their lives post-release.
Mr Nkomo’s personal life also reflects his journey of redemption. Twice rejected by women whose families feared his past, he finally found love with his current wife, who stood by him despite his history.
“Upon telling her how I had lived in my previous life, she was convinced I had changed and supported me,” said Mr Nkomo.Today, they work side by side in ministry.
“We are trying to bridge the gap, to show that a person should be given a second chance,” said Mr Nkomo.
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