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Nyemudzai Kakore Herald Reporter
At least 78 prisoners have escaped from the country’s correctional facilities in the past two years, raising concerns over the laxity of security at prisons.
Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services spokesperson Chief Superintendent Elizabeth Banda said despite the escapes, Zimbabwe still met
international standards in terms of prison security.
“We have recoded 78 escapes in two years, 43 in 2013 and 35 in 2014,: she said.
B Class prisoners have dominated in the escape record. This category is always exposed outside the prison since it is the one which is allowed to work outside prisons.
“Our prison system is in line with the United Nations minimum standard rules for the treatment of offenders. In most cases, prisoners in our custody escape from their place of work, which are mainly outside the perimeter fence which cannot be monitored by CCTVs.
Chief Supt Banda said Mashonaland region topped the number of escapees with two officers being assaulted during the escapes.
She said this year alone, Mashonaland region had 17 escapes, Manicaland 6, Midlands and Masvingo 5 and Matabeleland 7.
Prisoners usually sneak away and sometimes daringly dash for their freedom, said Chief Supt Banda. Two officers have been victims during the escapes since the beginning of the year.”
Chief Supt Banda said ZPCS was in the process of tightening security at most prisons in the wake of the escapes.
“In ensuring that our security is tight, armed officers are now complemented by our mounted unit and the dog section to escort inmates to the farms,” she said.
“Additionally, we are in the process of acquiring state-of-the-art CCTV equipment for our maximum security prisons and eventually to do the same for all the other prisons since the ones we had have been overtaken by technological advancement.”
Online Reporter