Online Reporter
. . . Scores to serve remainder of their sentences in their communities
Arron Nyamayaro
SOON you are going to see prisoners serving the remainder of their sentences working in their communities and going home to sleep instead of returning to prison.
Scores of inmates are set to be released before completing their sentences and they will serve the remainder of their sentences under supervision in their communities around the country.
Commissioner General of Prisons, Moses Chihobvu, revealed this at the closing of the Parole Regulations Stakeholders Workshop at Harare Central Prison Mess.
The workshop attracted legal and rehabilitation officers who were drawn from all the country’s ten provinces.
The system is expected to reduce overcrowding in prisons and will shape a correctional system that reforms, empowers and reintegrates inmates back into society as productive citizens.
Zambia chairperson of National Parole board, Lloyd Chirundika, and Namibia chairperson of the National Parole board, Emilioge Van Zyl, facilitated the workshop.
“As we officially bring this Parole Regulations Stakeholders’ Workshop to a close, allow me, on behalf of the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) and indeed on my own behalf, to extend our deepest gratitude to you all for your invaluable contributions,” said Comm-Gen Chihobvu.
“Your commitment to attend and active participation resoundingly made this workshop a success.
“May I hasten to mention that this workshop was a technical experts’ engagement, carefully designed to facilitate the exchange of experiences, knowledge and best practices on the parole system.
“Over the past few days, we have had comprehensive discussions on how best to operationalise the parole system within the framework of the Prisons and Correctional Service Act (Chapter 7:23).
“Our ultimate goal is to ensure that this Act serves its core purpose of rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates while promoting community safety.”
He added:
“As ZPCS, we are particularly grateful for the positive response and the participation of our regional counterparts, namely the Namibian Correctional Service and the Zambia Correctional Service, who have joined us in this important dialogue.
“Zambia and Namibia established their parole systems many years ago and their experience in this area is invaluable.
“The insights and lessons learnt from their long-standing systems will undoubtedly add significant value to the development of Zimbabwe’s own parole system.
“We deeply appreciate your willingness to share your experiences with us and we are confident that your contributions will play a crucial role in shaping an effective and sustainable parole framework for Zimbabwe.”
He said parole was not a pardon or a complete release from the sentence but a supervised release with specific conditions.
Parole aims to help prisoners reintegrate into society by providing a structured transition from incarceration to community living.
If a prisoner violates the conditions of their parole, they can be returned to prison to serve the remaining portion of their sentence.
