I deserve another chance

A talented music composer and a dancer that perfected his skill during his 11-year stay at Khami Maximum Prison has challenged stakeholders in the music industry to embrace him as he would be completing his lengthy sentence in the next five months.

Captain Ncube (38) who was imprisoned for rape is one of the inmates, who benefitted from the transformation of Zimbabwe Prisons Service (ZPS) into Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) way back in 2013.

B-Metro last week visited Khami Medium Prison and had an opportunity to talk to the musician, who could not hide his excitement as he is left with only five months to complete his lengthy sentence.

Khami prison

Ncube said staying in prison for such a long time gave him an opportunity to identify his real talent, which later saw him forming his band called Mayobhodo.

“My brother I am really happy to be talking to you about my longest journey in prison as staying in this environment for more than 10 years is not a joke.

“I was brought to this place after being framed of having raped one of our neighbours’ daughter in Mayobhodo in Plumtree. This issue was manufactured by these people a few days after my arrival from South Africa as I was busy constructing my homestead.

“These neighbours of ours were not impressed with the developments that were taking place so they decided to abort my moves by sending me to prison for a very long time,” he said.
Ncube said when the issue was reported to the police he was taken for further questioning and they later took him to court.

“I was actually at home busy working with local builders as we were doing some renovations when I got a visit from police officers who told me that I was under arrest on allegations of raping a minor.

“When I left for the police station, I thought it was just a small matter that I could simply clarify and go back home to continue with my work.

“Little did I know that it was the beginning of all the problems that I have been going through for the past 10 years,”|he said.

Captain as he is popularly known in the music circles said he discovered that he was in trouble when he got to court and was remanded in custody.

While in prison, the inmate consulted other inmates over his matter and they openly told him that his chances of survival were very slim as it involved a minor.
“When I was sent to prison, I could not believe it, as I understood that I was innocent and while in prison I did my consultations with other inmates who told me honestly that my chances of survival were very slim.

“After two months, I was taken back to court and I was sentenced to 11 years in prison and to be honest with you, I could not believe that my life had been turned upside down” he said.

The inmate said he became so stressed for more than five months after his conviction, but with the support of the rehabilitation section he was given an opportunity to reflect on his life and choose a career that could help him sustain himself and his family upon completing his long sentence.

“My first days in prison were not easy my brother, I was so stressed as I could not believe that I had been sentenced to 11 years in prison over an issue framed by our neighbours who were fighting with my family.

“When other inmates realised that I was losing weight over the issue, they recommended that I should visit the rehabilitation section for counselling.

“While in my counselling sessions, I told the officers that I had a serious passion for music as I was a dancer with local musicians that include Chase Skuza, Ndux Junior and Obadiah Matulana,” he said.

 

Chase Skuza

Ncube said it was recommended that he starts composing his own music to be performed at different competitions that would be held behind the walls.

“I would really like to thank the support that I got from ZPCS as the officers responsible urged me to compose my own music that is yet to be recorded.

“At the moment, I have got more than 60 albums that I composed, which has always been my wish to record some of these songs while in prison.

“Prison has turned to be a part of me and it’s something that I can’t run away from, so recording music and videos would tell the full story of my life,”he said.
Ncube said his lengthy sentence will be coming to an end in five months so he would like to challenge stakeholders in the music industry to come on board and assist him record his music.

“When one talks about coming from prison a lot of people develop cold feet of which it’s justified to a certain extent but at the same time, I would like to appeal to different stakeholders to come on board and assist me to achieve my dream.

“I would like to believe I have a contribution to make towards the development of this nation and that can only be possible if the community chips in to assist,” he said.

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