Tinaye Agere
Online Reporter
IN a bid to close loopholes within the national legislative framework for crime prevention and justice delivery, Zimbabwe has reviewed several Acts of law, while new policies have been put in place.
Speaking at the 33rd session of the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Prevention in Austria on Wednesday, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Raphael Tayerera Faranisi, said the move resulted in crime reduction.
“Our first area of intervention has been to close gaps and loopholes within the legislative framework for crime prevention and justice delivery and to date, several Acts have been reviewed while new policies have been put in place,” he said.
Some of the measures taken include the enactment of the amended Prisons and Correctional Services Act, whose thrust has been refocused on the rehabilitation of inmates as opposed to their incarceration.
Ambassador Faranisi said the forensics department had been revamped to ensure the timeous availability of scientific evidence needed for efficient justice delivery.
“This has gone a long way in the clearance of backlogs in some sections, such as those dealing with the illicit drugs problem,” he said.
Zimbabwe is party to the Kyoto Protocol Declaration adopted at the 14th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.
In line with the obligations of the Protocol, Zimbabwe is also pushing for the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 16 which speaks of peace, justice and strong institutions.
Through its blueprint, the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), Zimbabwe also stresses the importance of enhancing crime prevention and justice delivery as one of the key result areas.
Online Reporter