They say, “The dance of a madman is funny until it’s your own family member.” This old saying feels painfully real in the story of a man known as Chihombe, whose journey of rehabilitation has inspired, but also troubled, many.
A few months ago, Chihombe was rescued from the streets by community leader Stunt Masterflexx (Felix Machingambi). His transformation was uplifting—fresh clothes, a safe place to live, and a second chance at life. For a moment, it seemed like a story of redemption. But recently, news broke that Chihombe had returned to the streets.
The setback left many asking: what more must be done to ensure that those who are rehabilitated don’t go back?
A Familiar Struggle : The Peter Kagomera story
Chihombe’s story is not an isolated one. Years ago, Peter Kagomera, one of sungura legend Alick Macheso’s dancers, went through a similar journey. Despite receiving help and opportunities, he eventually found himself back on the streets, trapped by personal challenges and destructive habits.
These cases highlight a deeper truth—rehabilitation is not just about removing someone from the streets.
Experts in psychology and social work remind us that true rehabilitation must go beyond shelter, food, and clean clothes. It is about rebuilding identity, restoring dignity, developing skills, and finding purpose.
The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services has demonstrated how this approach can work. Take Oscar Pambuka, for example. During his prison sentence, he underwent rehabilitation, embraced change, and successfully reintegrated into society. Today, he shares his story and campaigns against drug abuse, proving that transformation is possible with the right support.
The Challenge of Acceptance
A video circulating online recently showed Chihombe claiming that rehabilitation had done him “more harm than good” because society still saw him as “mad.” His words point to a painful reality: stigma can undo even the best rehabilitation efforts.
As a society, we must ask ourselves: are we truly ready to accept rehabilitated individuals as part of us again? Without acceptance, rejection pushes them back to the streets.
The Missing Link: Skills and Opportunity
Groups like Stunt Masterflexx’s team and Matrix have made tremendous efforts to help people like Chihombe. But the reality is that without vocational skills and economic opportunities, many slip back into street life.
Training in carpentry, tailoring, mechanics, or farming could provide a sustainable livelihood and a sense of purpose.
In Chihombe’s case, a job was arranged for him at Kalos Meats—a promising opportunity. He even worked there briefly before abandoning it and disappearing. This shows us that rehabilitation is not a one-time event, but a long-term journey that requires consistent guidance, mentorship, and follow-up.
Chihombe’s story should not be dismissed as just another relapse, but embraced as a wake-up call for deeper, coordinated, and long-term rehabilitation strategies.
A Call for Coordinated Action
If rehabilitation is to succeed, it cannot rest on the shoulders of individuals and small groups alone. The Ministry of Skills Audit and Development, government agencies, communities, and civil society must work together to build pathways for:
- Skills training
- Mentorship
- Community reintegration
When people leave rehabilitation with employable skills and ongoing support, they gain not just hope, but also a reason to keep moving forward.
If we are serious about fighting drug abuse and homelessness, we cannot ignore cases where rehabilitation fails. Instead, we must learn from them. Every second chance must be made to last.
Discover more from earGROUND
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
