admin
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
ABOUT 11 percent of the country’s prisoners jailed during the second quarter of 2023 were from Manicaland, the latest statistics from the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) have revealed.
In the Second Quarter 2023 Prison Admissions and Discharges Statistics Report that was released on Tuesday, it was revealed that the country had 11 930 prisoners, of which 1 300, translating to 10.9 percent, were from Manicaland.
The statistics revealed that the province comes after Harare, Mashonaland West and Midlands which had 16.1 percent, 12.2 percent and 11.9 percent respectively.
A notable decrease of the prison population was also noted.
“From the end of the first quarter to the end of the second quarter, the prison population decreased from 23 982 to 20 635. During the same period, the population of male prisoners declined from 23 341 to 20 035 while female prisoners declined from 641 to 600,” reads part of the report.
The latest statistics from ZimStat also showed that Manicaland Province recorded the lowest crime rate in the country during the first and second quarter.
The crimes are classified according to the United Nations International Classification of Crime for Statistical Purposes (ICCS) adopted in 2016.
Presenting the report on Tuesday, ZimStat public relations manager, Ms Mercy Chidemo said the 2023 Second Quarter Prison Admissions and Discharges Statistics Report sheds light on the prison population, the number and profile of prisoners who get admitted into prison, and those who get discharged from the country’s prison facilities.
She said the statistics can inform policy development and planning in the criminal justice system.
“Prison statistics are also used for reporting on the United Nations Crime Trends Survey (UNCTS) and monitoring of Sustainable Development Goal 16.3.2. The information contained in this publication is based on data provided by the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS),” she said.
Ms Chidemo revealed that the crime rate in Zimbabwe decreased by 13.7 per cent from the 206 300 cases recorded during the first quarter of the year to 178 031 recorded during the second quarter of 2023.
“All provinces, including Manicaland, witnessed a decline in crime between the first and second quarter of the year,” said Ms Chidemo.
She also stated that the statistics on trends of crime were based on police-recorded crime data.
However, the figures exclude crimes that were not reported to the police.
The ZPCS operates 48 main and 24 satellite prisons throughout the country, which have a capacity to hold 17 000 prisoners at a time.
To decongest the prisons, a total of 4 270 prisoners were released from prison through the Presidential Amnesty during the second quarter.
A total of 463 prison inmates in Manicaland benefitted from the Presidential Amnesty.
ZPCS Manicaland provincial spokesperson, Chief Correctional Officer Liberty Mhlanga said releasing prisoners through the Presidential Amnesty helped reduce the prison population, while paving way for more effective inmates rehabilitation work for those that remained behind.
“The Presidential Amnesty gave those released a new lease of life and enabled them to be productive in the communities. It also decongested our prisons.
“It is our fervent hope that the released inmates will be good ambassadors of the rehabilitation work being done in our prisons around the country. We really do not wish to see them back, but be productive in their communities,” said Chief Correctional Officer Mhlanga.
Countrywide, unlawful acts involving alcohol, tobacco or other controlled substances have been the most prevalent crimes.
Manicaland provincial deputy police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka attributed the decrease in crime to the partnership between the police and its stakeholders, as well as the powerful role of the media.
“We thank our colleagues from the media for playing a pivotal role in the fight against crime. Our province is blessed to have a number of media houses and community radio stations that are playing a critical role in assisting us through disseminating crucial information through crime awareness campaigns.
“We have a good number of community policing initiatives in place that are assisting us in fighting crime, including the Neighborhood Watch Committee which recently assisted us in the arrest of three notorious thieves who were stealing car batteries in Chikanga.
“The Business Against Crime Forum, Crime Liaison Committees and engagement with traditional leaders, among others, have also been critical in helping us to combat crime.
“We have had a good number of arrests and recoveries, resulting in the clearance of many cases like the recent arrest of suspects from Rusape that helped us to clear 30 counts of unlawful entries and thefts. This means more arrests and recoveries deter would-be offenders as they will realise that the police have adopted a no-nonsense approach in fighting crime,” said Assistant Inspector Chinyoka.
He added that several campaigns and engagements with several stakeholders such as church have also been fruitful.
“We have been doing impactful operations such as the anti-sexual violence campaigns, and cattle branding re-launches. We have also been engaging churches and joining other Government departments and development partners to educate the public on good cultural practices which are in support of the country’s laws.
“We have also been castigating harmful practices against women and children and ritual killings, among other things,” said Assistant Inspector Chinyoka.
Online Reporter