The Zimbabwe Prison Service
(This information was mostly sourced from the Prison Services Page on the website of the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, in March 2009)
Commissioner: Paradzai Zimondi
Deputy Comissioner: M. Siziba
Deputy Commissioner: W. Chimboza
Public Relations Manager: Superintendent Gibson Mapokotera
(ZPS) is a uniformed Para-military organisation under the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, established in terms of section 99(1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe and is headed by the Commissioner of Prisons.
In terms of section 113 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Prison Service is not part of the Public Service.
ZPS administers a total of 46 prisons and 26 satellite prisons throughout the country. These prisons include some which were built at the turn of the last century, such as the Harare Central Prison and Masvingo Remand Prison. More modern structures were built after independence such as Kadoma, Mutare Farm, Chipinge and Khami Maximum Security prisons. The official holding capacity is 17 000 inmates. Presently the prison population is fluctuating around 18 000 (Info out of date: currently estimated at around 25 000) and of these 70% are convicted prisoners while 30% are unconvicted prisoners. Female prisoners and juveniles constitute 3% and 1,8% of the total prison population respectively. The majority of the prisoners in Zimbabwe are in the age group of 18-40 years.
Zimbabwe is a signatory to a number of United Nations Charters and as such, the ZPS complies with the requirements of certain UN Charters such as the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Offenders . Zimbabwe is also party to international human rights treaties, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
The ZPS relies on a number of Acts and statutory instruments that guide its operations, some of which are:
* Prisons Act Chapter 7:11.
* Mental Health Act
* Official Secrets Act.
* Prisons (General) Regulations, 1996.
The functions of the Zimbabwe Prison Service are derived from the mission statement and the broad functions of the ZPS are as follows:
* Secure incarceration of all inmates and ensuring that sentences meted out by courts are carried out accordingly.
* Servicing of courts countrywide by ensuring delivery and collection of inmates to and from courts.
* Provision of labour in the form of work parties/gangs to government institutions.
* Engaging inmates in productive activities such as farming which is aimed at making the Prison Service self sufficient in food requirements as well as generate revenue.
* Training of inmates in various skills for their rehabilitation and in preparation for their re-intergration into society on release.
* Provision of a safe, humane and hygienic prison environment for inmates and staff.
* Management of Prisons in a professional manner.
Administration Section.
The section is headed by the Senior Assistant Commissioner. The section oversees administration of prisons and prisoners welfare. Other branches under administration are Quartermaster, Construction, Public Relations, Transport, Education, Healthcare services, Finance and Rehabilitation.
The main responsibilities of the administration section are as follows:
* Organizes and controls prison administration and stores.
* Look into welfare of inmates i.e. living conditions in prisons, transfers from one prison to another, inmates’ complaints, petitions for mercy and injuries.
* Analyses prison population statistics and monitors the carrying capacity of prisons.
* Maintains inmates’ deaths and escape registers
* Liaises with security section on matters pertaining to escapes, imprisoned foreign nationals and movements of high security-risk inmates.
Mission Statement
In line with the provisions of section 99 of the constitution of Zimbabwe the mission of the ZPS is:
“To protect society from the criminal elements through the incarceration and rehabilitation of offenders for their successful re- integration into society while exercising reasonable, safe, secure and humane control.”
In the ZPS we believe:
# That offenders need to be given a second chance through rehabilitation.
# In managing prisons with openness and integrity.
# In the efficient utilization of both material and human resources at our disposal.
# In community participation in the rehabilitation of offenders for their successful re-integration into society
ZPS ‘GOLDEN RULE’
In conclusion, the ZPS, we believe that offenders come to prison as punishment and not to be punished.
