Ivan Zhakata-Herald Correspondent
GOVERNMENT has drilled 315 boreholes at correctional facilities and police stations across the country to address water shortages and improve sanitation for inmates and people held in police cells.
Of the total, 115 boreholes have been drilled at correctional facilities, while the Zimbabwe Republic Police has drilled another 200 to supplement existing water supplies and improve sanitation in holding cells.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Mrs Vimbai Nyemba, said the interventions were part of Government’s efforts to improve the living conditions of people deprived of their liberty.
She was speaking during the 89th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Dakar, Senegal, where she responded to issues raised following a March 2026 visit to Zimbabwe by the Commission’s Special Rapporteur on Prisons, Conditions of Detention and Policing in Africa.
The Special Rapporteur’s subsequent report found that general hygiene conditions at facilities visited were acceptable despite congestion, with interiors and surrounding areas appearing clean and inmates showing no visible signs of fatigue or suffering.
However, the report raised concerns over water shortages, with some inmates reportedly storing water in their cells for use when supplies were unavailable.
Mrs Nyemba said Government accepted the observations and was implementing measures to address the challenges.
“The Government accepts this observation in the constructive spirit in which it was made,” she said.
She said access to safe water and basic sanitation was fundamental to protecting the health and dignity of prisoners and other people deprived of their liberty.
“Access to safe water and basic sanitation is fundamental to the health and dignity of persons deprived of their liberty. It is closely tied to the rights protected under Articles 4 and 5 of the African Charter and standards in the Nelson Mandela Rules,” Mrs Nyemba said.
She said the boreholes drilled at correctional facilities were intended to provide a reliable supply of safe drinking water while supporting hygiene and sanitation.
“Water infrastructure is being upgraded, with 142 boreholes having been drilled at correctional facilities to secure a reliable supply of safe drinking water for inmates, and to support hygiene and sanitation,” she said.
Government is also constructing modern kitchens fitted with fuel-efficient pots and washing sinks at selected prison facilities to address open-air cooking and improve food hygiene.
At specialised facilities such as Mlondolozi Prison, targeted renovations are being undertaken to improve space, ventilation, natural lighting, water supply, and sanitation for inmates receiving mental healthcare.
The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service has also introduced pilot projects to manufacture chlorine disinfectant at prison facilities using basic ingredients.
