adminActing Zimbabwe Prison Service spokesperson Chief Prison Officer Priscilla Mtembo yesterday said the project had been shelved indefinitely.
“We did our own ground work and identified Marondera’s St Thomas Prison for Zimbabwe’s first ever open prison for women and the plans are in place.
“However, financial challenges have been detrimental to the construction and we hope the Ministry of Finance will provide the funds.”
St Thomas is currently used as a male prison. She said ZPS cannot meet construction costs as funds from Treasury are not enough for their operations.
Chief Prison Officer Mtembo said the open prison will also be ideal for jailed women with babies.
“When a nursing mother is jailed, the child is supposed to leave the prison upon attainment of the age of two or after weaning from breast-feeding. The mother then
chooses relatives to take care of the child and if they accept the responsibility, we go and inspect their homes.”
Chief Prison Officer Mtembo said the open prison system will cater for mothers especially when they fail to have relatives look after their children.
Such children end up at children’s homes.
Rights groups have been pushing for a female open prison as male prisoners have one at Connemara in the Midlands Province.
Online Reporter