Online Reporter
The Herald
23 May 1984
THE Zimbabwean penal system will be restructured to place emphasis on rehabilitation and re-orientation rather than punishment, the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Dr Eddison Zvobgo, said in Harare yesterday.
He told the Zimbabwe Association for the Care and Rehabilitation of Offenders that because of the country’s socialist goals, all laws would be aimed at restructuring society.
The Zimbabwean criminal law and the prison service were modelled on South African lines which were unacceptable to Zimbabwe as they perpetrated apartheid and stressed security, custodial and exploitative aspects of imprisonment.
Among the progressive steps that the Government had taken was to introduce productive work in prisons because locking up prisoners like animals behind bars made them embittered.
Being productive would help them change their attitudes.
Cde Zvobgo said the Government was about to buy a coffee farm in Chinhoyi for the prisons service as part of this production exercise.
The present policy was to move prisons away from towns to rural areas where there were suitable and ample facilities for production.
Depending on funds, farm prisons would be set up throughout the country.
Cde Zvobgo said that while some people advocated only punishment by imprisonment, it was unrealistic.
Only a small percentage of all offenders were caught and convicted and with rehabilitation, they could be helped to adjust.
He said it had also been proved in other countries that long prison terms and harsh treatment tended to increase crime, which was why seldom refused parole of prisoners as recommended by the Parole Board.
Lessons for today:
This passage highlights several important lessons regarding the rehabilitation of prisoners in Zimbabwe. These lessons emphasize the importance of a humane and rehabilitative approach to criminal justice, focusing on the reintegration of offenders into society and the reduction of recidivism through productive and supportive measures.
The emphasis on rehabilitation and re-orientation rather than punishment reflects a progressive approach to criminal justice. This shift aims to help offenders reintegrate into society as productive members.
Introducing productive work in prisons is seen as a way to change prisoners’ attitudes and reduce bitterness. Engaging in meaningful activities can provide skills and a sense of purpose, aiding in rehabilitation.
The passage notes that long prison terms and harsh treatment can increase crime, suggesting that more lenient and rehabilitative approaches may be more effective in reducing recidivism.
The use of parole as recommended by the Parole Board indicates a system that values second chances and the potential for reform.
