Open prison for females

THE Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services will now allow some female prisoners to serve in open prisons as they are qualifying candidates, an official has said.

An open prison system is one where prisoners are trusted to serve their sentences with minimum supervision. Speaking during the 147th pass-out parade at Ntabazinduna Training School yesterday, ZPCS commissioner-general Retired Major-General Paradzai Zimondi said the open prison system is going to be introduced in the country soon.

“As ZPCS we are looking forward to a situation whereby all female offenders serve their sentences at open prisons. All our female offenders qualify for open prison but we currently do not have such a facility for them although approval was made by the Government to establish an open prison at Marondera. Progress has been stalled by lack of funding,” he said.

He said ZPCS was seeking assistance to help in establishing open prisons. The aim is to ensure that every province has an open prison. He also commended the Command Agriculture Programme which he said has seen an increase in yields at most prison farms.

“Command Agriculture has assisted in both increasing production as well as rehabilitation of offenders. Through Command Agriculture we are guaranteed of enough maize to take us through to the next harvest,” said Rtd MajGen Zimondi.

Standing in for the guest of honour, Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Macro-Economic Planning and Investment Promotion Minister Cde Obert Mpofu said the presence of female recruits was encouraging.

“This is very encouraging as the organisation has managed to free itself from the colonial legacy of female prejudice. ZPCS continues to recognise and address gender disparity as witnessed by the elevation of female officers to top posts in its hierarchy which is a positive move,” he said.

He commended the Government’s land reform programme which enabled ZPCS to acquire land which had offered inmates an opportunity to produce food for self sustenance and relieve the Government on feeding inmates. The pass-out comprised 494 Recruit Correctional Officers, 138 females and 138 males.