The Tanzania Prisons Service has called on society to stop stigmatizing former inmates after completing their sentences, stressing the need for communities to support their reintegration so they can actively participate in national development and economic activities.
The appeal was made by the Commissioner for Rehabilitation Services in the Tanzania Prisons Service, Amina Semina Kavirondo, during a training programme on clean energy production for prison officers from across the country held at Kihonda Prison in Morogoro Region.
Kavirondo said many inmates leave correctional facilities equipped with practical skills gained during rehabilitation programmes, but their ability to use those skills is often hindered by lack of trust and continued discrimination from society.
She noted that stigma remains one of the biggest challenges facing former inmates, preventing them from being accepted and from contributing meaningfully to society after completing their sentences.
She urged communities, in collaboration with the government, to give former inmates opportunities to engage in productive activities, saying this would help reduce the risk of reoffending and returning to prison.
The Commissioner emphasized that rehabilitation programmes inside prisons are designed to prepare inmates for life after release by equipping them with practical and market-relevant skills.
She said the ongoing training for prison officers on clean energy production is part of strengthening this approach, ensuring that officers are well prepared to pass on knowledge to inmates in various correctional facilities.
According to her, the programme focuses on eco-friendly charcoal production technologies that use agricultural waste as raw materials, contributing to both environmental protection and income generation.
Opening the training, the Commissioner for Planning and Finance in the Tanzania Prisons Service, Chacha Bina, said the institution has already installed 61 machines for producing clean charcoal in different correctional centers across the country.
Bina explained that the machines convert agricultural residues into alternative charcoal, reducing pressure on forests while also creating economic value from materials that were previously considered waste.
He said the initiative is part of efforts to modernize prison rehabilitation programmes while also strengthening environmental conservation and increasing institutional revenue.
“The production of charcoal using these machines, which rely on agricultural residues, will help reduce costs, protect the environment, and increase revenue for the Tanzania Prisons Service,” he said.
Bina added that officers trained under the programme will transfer the skills to inmates, ensuring that those completing their sentences are equipped with practical knowledge to support self-reliance after release.
He stressed that this approach is aimed at reducing dependency and preventing former inmates from returning to criminal activities due to lack of opportunities.
Kihonda Prison Commander, Lucas Mboje, said the initiative also provides economic benefits, as the eco-friendly charcoal produced will be sold to the public, generating additional income for the service.
He said agricultural waste, once regarded as useless, has now become an important raw material in production.
“What was once seen as waste is now a source of business. These agricultural residues are the main raw materials for producing clean charcoal. Our goal is to ensure a continuous and reliable supply while also contributing to environmental protection,” he said.
The Tanzania Prisons Service said the initiative is part of broader reforms aimed at improving rehabilitation systems, promoting environmental sustainability, and supporting successful reintegration of former inmates into society.
