PLANS are underway to build two new prisons as the government moves to deal with overcrowding in correctional facilities, an official has said.
Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services (ZPCS) deputy commissioner general Social Ndanga said this recently when he appeared before the joint sitting of the Thematic Committee on Human Rights and the Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.
Ndanga said the ZPCS has been granted the authority to construct two modern prisons, one in Gwanda, Matabeleland South province, and another at the Hurungwe prison farm, Mashonaland Central.
“The government, in terms of reducing this overcrowding, has authorized the construction of two modern prisons, one in Gwanda and one in Hurungwe. Topographical surveys have been completed and master plan designs are in progress, but budgetary constraints will obviously delay completion of the same.
And also there are temporary prisons that are going to be constructed throughout the country,” he said. Zimbabwe has a total of 46 prisons, three of which are for female inmates only, while 17 including Connemara Open Prison, are for male inmates only and 26 accommodate both male and female inmates, all together having a holding capacity of 17 000 inmates.
In addition to the 46 prisons, there are 24 temporary prisons dotted around the country, together currently holding 22 174 inmates.
“Of that figure, 21 401 are males and 772 are females,” said Ndanga. Ndanga told the joint committees that Zimbabwean prisons are usually overcrowded, with the population going as high as 24 000 inmates. Early this year, over 4 000 inmates were released under the Presidential Amnesty, one of the methods to decongest the prisons.
“What is very critical for us now is to equip these prisoners, these inmates, so that when they go out of prison, they now become lawabiding citizens, and they don’t go back to prison,” Ndanga said. – New Ziana