adminWalter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
MASVINGO regional magistrate Colet Ncube has expressed concern over the harsh way prison officers treat juvenile offenders and called for the situation to be addressed as a matter of urgency. Speaking during a Victim Friendly Committee (VFC) meeting on Thursday, Ncube said prison officers ignorantly mix juvenile offenders with hardcore criminals, something that will compromise efforts to mould the minors into responsible citizens.
Victim Friendly Committee is a forum consisting of the police, Social Services, Health, Education and other organisations dealing with children’s issues.
It is coordinated by the regional court to specifically share information pertaining to sexual abuse of children.
Ncube said when juvenile offenders are sent to jail as part of the reform process, mixing them with hardcore criminals compromises them.
“I have noted with concern that juvenile offenders are allowed to mingle with hardcore criminals. It is incumbent upon prison officers to ensure juveniles and other criminals are treated differently.
“The ages of criminals should be considered,” said Ncube.
He said the problem was more prevalent among newly attached prison officers and appealed to their seniors to take them through induction courses.
“I think there is need for some sort of induction. You should take junior officers through court procedures so that they become acquainted with what is expected of them. You must also remove handcuffs and leg-irons when offenders are in the dock. Some would want to explain using their hands and should be afforded that chance,” he said.
Speaking at the same meeting, regional court magistrate Judith Zuyu said members of the public should stop “coaching” sexually abused children what to say in court.
She said the courts have had a torrid time in convicting perpetrators because of lack of consistency in the evidence given by the victims.
“Usually, it is disturbing to find that the evidence given by the child, who is the complainant, is not consistent yet the chances that the accused would have committed the offence are high. Children should be left to tell the truth not being told what to say. The court will end up acquitting perpetrators because the evidence given is compromised,” said Zuyu.
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