By Larry Trusida Sport Editor
THE second edition of the Chess Behind the Walls tournament was held this Sunday afternoon at Harare Central Prison’s Senior officer’s mess.
The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services hosted the second edition of the Chess Behind the Walls tournament in the capital on the back of disruptions to last year’s event due to COVID-19 pandemic.
This year’s tournament drew 75 participants, 39 being professional chess players, 20 inmates and 16 officers, as well as ZPCS Commissioner General, Moses Chihobvu.
“Sport plays a key role in the rehabilitation of inmates, it eases stress and we are hoping that it will create synergies that will help out when they are released from prison,” said Moses Chihobvu, ZPCS Commissioner General.
The Zimbabwe Chess Federation is helping to take the tournament nationwide.
“We want this tournament to be a national event being played in all Prisons, they might be confined but that does not take away their talents,” said Dr Collen Tongowona.
Inmates are happy with the initiative.
“I started playing chess in 2019 in prison and I am happy because chess also builds character and I am going to continue playing even outside,” said an inmate, Desmond Marufu.
The ZPCS is looking to build lasting relationships for inmates and 1936 greatest Olymipad Jesse Owen once remarked: ‘Friendships born on the field of athletic strife are the real gold of a competition, Awards become corroded but awards gather no dust.’
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