WHILE the country basks in the glow of recent international success at the 45th Chess Olympiad, another inspiring story is unfolding within the confines of correctional facilities with the Online International Chess Championships set to kick off next week.
Men and women serving sentences for various offences are also gearing up to represent Zimbabwe on the world stage.
Preparations are in full swing ahead of the Online Intercontinental Chess Championships for Prisoners, scheduled for October 8 to 11, 2024.
Facilitated by the Zimbabwe Chess Federation in partnership with the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) and supported by Minerva Risk Advisers, the tournament is giving inmates a platform to represent Zimbabwe globally, ensuring they are well-prepared for the competition.
ZPCS Deputy Commissioner-Generals Social Ndanga and Shepherd Mpofu recently visited Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison to assess the teams’ readiness.
They highlighted the significance of the initiative, which offers inmates an opportunity to showcase their talents on an international virtual platform.
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“Chess has the potential to help inmates make more calculated choices in their lives,” Ndanga said during the visit.
“Participating in tournaments such as the Online Intercontinental Chess Championships for prisoners goes a long way in preparing offenders for their lives after prison.”
For inmates, the chessboard is more than just a game; it’s a symbol of hope, strategy and mental discipline.
Among those preparing for the tournament is Leo Matibe, an inmate serving a life sentence at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison.
For Matibe, the opportunity to compete in such events is life-changing.
He expressed gratitude to ZPCS for allowing him and other inmates to participate, not just in the forthcoming online tournament, but also in the annual domestic Behind the Walls Chess tournament.
Matibe acknowledged the “generous support” from the corporate world, particularly Minerva Risk Management, which donated chess equipment for use by inmates.
“The equipment we received has had a huge impact on our preparations and allows us to compete at a higher level,” Matibe said.
“We are thankful for this support, which has boosted both our morale and our performance.”
Minerva Risk Advisors donated two chess boards for each of the 43 correctional prisons in the country.
In 2021, during the inaugural event, Zimbabwe’s inmates made headlines when they won a silver medal, narrowly missing out on the top spot to Mongolia.
Now, with renewed determination, they are ready to take on the world once again.
Among the female inmates, Nompumelelo Vusa, from Marondera Female Open Correctional Institution, is preparing for her first appearance in the Online Chess Championships.
Vusa, serving time for fraud, expressed her excitement and hoped to one day emulate Zimbabwe’s female chess players, who recently competed in Budapest.
“We are all inspired by what our national team has achieved in Hungary. One day, I hope that the women who represented Zimbabwe can come to the prison and share their knowledge with us. Chess is more than just a game; it teaches us to think carefully about every move, both on the board and in life,” Vusa said.
As the tournament approaches, inmates are honing their skills, determined to bring pride to the nation once more.
The Zimbabwe Chess Federation, working in collaboration with the ZPCS, is ensuring the teams are adequately prepared and supported for the competition.