CommuTalk Reporter
GWERU: The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) open prisons concept is the envy of many with a top delegation from Botswana’s prison authorities appreciating how the parastatal is moving towards world standards.
The open prisons concept gives prisoners ample time to do vocational training in various self-help projects like carpentry and art as they serve their time in prisons.
Prisoners are also awarded a chance to visit their families during weekends and holidays as a way to prepare them for their reintegration into society.
ZPCS is upbeat that resources permitting, there are more projects in the pipeline to make prisons a better place.
“We have been given a mandate by President Mnangagwa to make prisons a real correctional facility. We believe that people commit crimes due to various circumstances some of which are indeed avoidable.
“What we intend to do as a service is to curtail a virtual cycle where one is always in and out of the prison gates.
This can only be achieved through equipping our prisoners with requisite skills that will ensure self-sustenance in the future. Through this, we anticipate coming up with new ideas that will shape the prisons and correctional services in a huge way,” said ZPCS Commissioner-General Mozes Chihobvu.
Botswana’s Prison Services delegation which is in the country to learn the concept of the open prison said it is impressed by what the ZPCS team has done in reconfiguring the prisons in the country.
“Honestly speaking the visit has been an eye-opener. We first visited Marondera open prison and now we are here (Midlands). We have been treating such facilities as punishment centers but to be frank with you.
“Your country has done exceptionally well in changing that kind of mindset. We are definitely taking notes and I can assure you that after this visit, the Botswana Correctional service will never be the same again,” said Botswana Prison Services Commissioner; Dinah Marathe.
The applaud comes amid calls by civic groups for ZPCS to improve services as health provision, diet and general living environment in prisons.
Calls have also been made to decongest cells.
