Inmates rebuild future through prisons housing project
Pini Bothoko | Monday October 27, 2025 11:39
This project has been hailed as a model for skills development and cost-effective infrastructure delivery. Speaking during the official handover of the refurbished staff houses on Tuesday at Gaborone Prisons complex, Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Nelson Ramaotwana, commended the inmates for their hands-on contribution, describing the initiative as a powerful symbol of transformation and hope.
A total of 58 inmates, trained in various construction trades such as painting, bricklaying, plumbing, electrical installation, tiling, and carpentry, worked alongside prison officers to remodel six old staff units into 12 semi-detached houses. The project, launched in May 2024, has so far cost P843,653 out of its P1.7 million budget, with completion targeted for March 2026.
Ramaotwana said the project demonstrates the government’s commitment to the rehabilitation of prisoners through skills empowerment.
“This project embodies our broader, rehabilitation-centred agenda in its purest form. Had we procured a private contractor, the costs would have been substantially higher at P1.4 million for the completed three houses. Instead, by using prison labour, we saved up to 70% about P590, 557 while also transferring invaluable skills to the inmates,” he said.
The minister said the inmates’ involvement is a “win-win strategy” for national development, showing that even within limited budgets, innovation and human potential can yield lasting results. He added that the skills gained by inmates are being assessed and certified through partnerships with Madirelo Training and Testing Centre (MTTC) and Construction Industry Trust Fund (CITF) to ensure their qualifications are recognized upon release.
“It provides these individuals with a certified passport to a lawful trade, ensuring they are adequately prepared to contribute meaningfully to our economy post-incarceration,” Ramaotwana said.
Ramaotwana further revealed that the Botswana Prison Service plans to repeat the model across other facilities and extend it into rehabilitative farming projects aimed at achieving food self-sufficiency in prisons.
He applauded prison officers who supervised and mentored inmates throughout the renovation, saying the initiative not only improved working conditions for officers but also changed the lives of those serving time.
“To the inmates who participated in this project, look upon these houses with pride, for you built them. The skills you have gained here, discipline, teamwork, and a certified trade are stepping stones to a brighter, more meaningful future,” he said.
The Minister further stated that the project stands as a testament to what can be achieved when the country invests in people’s rehabilitation rather than punishment alone.
“It prepares inmates not to return to prison, but to return to society as productive citizens,” he added.
The minister concluded by officially handing over the renovated staff houses, describing the moment as a milestone in Botswana’s journey toward a more humane and sustainable correctional system.
In his welcome remarks, the Commissioner of Prisons, Anthony Mokento, commended the inmates for their work, stating that the refurbishment project symbolizes teamwork and progress. He said the initiative aims to improve officers’ living conditions while providing inmates with meaningful hands-on experience.
“Inmates managed to refurbish a 3-bedroom house into two semi-detached 2-bedroom houses. A house that used to accommodate three officers will be accommodating four officers, two of them will be sharing a 2-bedroomed house with a sitting room, kitchen, and a bathroom. They have also constructed an ablution block at First Offenders Prison,” he said.
Mokento further revealed that 39 inmates recently underwent training and testing in electrical work through the MTTC, and amongst them, 38 successfully passed, with only one failing, a remarkable achievement that reflects their dedication and hard work.
“We hope that these newly acquired skills will empower them to rebuild their lives and contribute meaningfully to society after their release,” Mokento said.