03 May 2018

After years behind bars, there comes a day when the convict gets released. 

However, the big question is, how does one come to terms with the past and create a new life? 

Despite historically high rates of prison releases and research on the effects of imprisonment, there are few detailed  accounts of the process of rejoining the society after incarceration. 

Leaving prison presents the challenge of social integration of connecting with family and a means of subsistence. 

After 10 years back into the society, Setlhare Manyeka (not his real name), reflected on his time in prison and life after jail, a story of what it is like assimilating back into society to start a new life, which he said had not been easy for him.

“Most people’s greatest fear about going to prison is heading into the unknown, unless one is a repeat offender. 

However, leaving prison also present the greatest challenge of social integration of connecting with the family and means of subsistence,” he said.

Manyeka explained that ex-prisoners in Botswana faced a challenging  environment that actively deterred one from becoming a productive member of the society. 

He said while his family accepted him with open arms, the society was still skeptical about him being reformed. 

This, he said, boiled down to stigma associated with ex-prisoners. 

He said on the day he was released, his family members organised a big welcome party, something he said made him feel welcomed back home. 

Recounting the events of the day leading to his conviction and 20 years imprisonment, Manyeka had been drinking for eight hours when just after midnight on September 29, 1990, he grabbed his 9mm revolver and followed his girlfriend at Flowertown location in Mahalapye, where she had gone to meet another man. 

He knocked at the door and the man emerged. 

He pulled his revolver from the back and shot him on the chest at close range and the man died instantly at his mansion doorstep.

He proceeded to the master bedroom where he found his girlfriend half naked and shot her on the head. She was reported dead on arrival at the hospital. 

Manyeka handed himself to the police the following day and after the trial, he was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison. 

Recapturing his sufferings while in prison such as prison rape, attempted suicide and living a mouse and rat life, Manyeka said he had hoped that life outside prison would be far much better. 

He said released prisoners have a hard time finding and maintaining employment immediately after reentry into the society. 

“You will never get a full time employment unless if it is part-time or a piece job,” he said, pointing out that one of the reasons why the country experienced repeated offenders was because of lack of employment. 

Manyeka suggested that there should be a special dispensation to reserve employment for ex-prisoners so that they were not caught in between. 

He said ex-prisoners should be equally allowed to enjoy government programmes and amenities to limit chances of re-offending. 

“It looks like opportunities for release from prison have been restricted. Most of us would want to work for Ipelegeng, but you will find that we are being sidelined probably because we have been to prison,” he added.

Manyeka cited that recently he was employed as a farm labourer and he had to quit the job after three days because he was told that he would be paid P20 per day. 

“This is a clear example of how ex-prisoners are normally treated by those who should be helping them to rejoin the society,” he added. 

He suggested that those in authority such as community leaders should consider employment to be the primary factor in a successful reentry into society by ex-prisoners. 

Manyeka further said another challenge was that of stigma associated with ex-prisoners.  

He cited one funny experience after he was released from prison where a beautiful young girl recently turned down his love proposal down at the 11^th hour simply because someone rumoured to her that he was an ex-prisoner.

“The damage to me was catastrophic.” he pointed out. 

“I think some people might have told her that I am an ex-convict and as such, she cannot be with a criminal. 

But I am no longer a criminal. I have repented and I am a born again somebody,” he added. 

With a pensive mood, he explained that this was one of his most devastating moments since he was released from jail. 

“Just imagine how many ex-prisoners experienced this challenge. They can end up taking the law into their hands by raping,” he said. 

Manyeka expressed hope for a better life in the near future as he had started to learn how to drive with the aim of starting his own taxi business. 

He also plans to undertake a one week training at BUAN on broiler chicken production to boost his income. 

Through all these efforts, Manyeka intends to prove to society that there is indeed life after prison. ENDS