Source: ZPCS opens new driving school – herald
Freeman Razemba
Senior Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) has launched its first driving school at the Chikurubi training centre, a significant milestone for the organisation since Independence.
The initiative is designed to provide structured training for ZPCS officers, inmates and the public. It aims to enhance road safety and promote responsible driving.
The driving school will offer a variety of training programmes aimed at different categories of drivers, including courses for Class 4, Class 2 and Class 1 driver’s licences.
There will be theoretical classes and practical instruction, a comprehensive approach intended to equip participants with the necessary skills and knowledge for safe driving.
Several Government officials including Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development Joshua Sacco, who represented Minister Felix Mhona, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Deputy Minister Advocate Norbert Mazungunye, Public Service Commission Commissioner Mr Larry Mavima, ZPCS Commissioner-General Moses Chihobvu and Deputy Commissioner-General Shepherd Mpofu, attend the launch yesterday.
In his remarks, Minister Mhona spoke about the significance of the driving school in addressing national challenges related to road safety.
He said the initiative marks a timely response to the need for improved transport discipline and institutional self-reliance.
He congratulated Comm-Gen Chihobvu and his team for this forward-looking initiative, noting that “the operational demands on a modern correctional system are increasing,” and it was encouraging to see institutions rising to meet these challenges through innovation and self-development.
Minister Mhona also highlighted the alarming rise in road traffic accidents and pointed out that despite ongoing efforts to modernise and expand the national road network, driver behaviour significantly influences these statistics.
“The launch of ZPCS Driving School directly responds to this challenge, through focusing and promoting structured driver education, discipline and a culture of safety.
‘‘What is especially commendable is the strategic decision by ZPCS to extend training services to the public, thereby positioning the school not only as a centre for internal professionalism but also as a contributor to broader national skills development.
“This inclusive approach is fully aligned with the Second Republic’s development philosophy of ‘leaving no one and no place behind’, as it opens doors for communities to access essential life and employability skills.
“It also reflects a bold and progressive response to the national call for innovation, commercialisation and institutional sustainability, which are anchored in the principles of empowerment, access and shared national growth,” said Minister Mhona.
Deputy Minister Mazungunye described the driving school as a strategic step in the ongoing transformation and professionalisation of ZPCS.
He noted that “competent and responsible driving was essential for public safety and institutional discipline”.
Going forward, plans are already in motion to expand the driving school’s services.
These will include vehicle orientation courses, refresher training, and specialised VIP driving courses.
Said Deputy Minister Mazungunye: “This initiative is expected to enhance the skills of both ZPCS officers and the community while contributing to national human capital development.”
Offering driving lessons to the public is part of a broader commercial strategy aimed at generating revenue to support the school’s operations, added Deputy Minister Mazungunye.
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