Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba-Senior Reporter
More than 23 600 people were in prison in Zimbabwe during the first quarter of 2025, according to a new report from the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat).
The data, drawn from the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS), shows that as of March 28, 2025 — the official reporting date — 23 654 inmates were in custody across the country’s correctional facilities.
This total comprises 22 889 males and 765 females, meaning that men accounted for 96,8 percent of the prison population, while women made up just 3,2 percent.
The new data also show a slight increase in the overall prison population, rising from 22 878 at the end of the fourth quarter of 2024 to 23 654 by the end of March 2025.
ZPCS operates 48 main prisons and 31 satellite correctional facilities nationwide.
The highest number of main prisons is found in Midlands Province, which has eight, followed by Manicaland and Harare, each with six.
The provinces with the fewest main prisons — Mashonaland Central, Matabeleland South and Masvingo — have three each.
Zimstat director-general Mrs Tafadzwa Bandama said the report provides a comprehensive overview of prison statistics for the first quarter, including the number of prisoners, new admissions, discharges and the demographic and legal profiles of inmates.
“The information on new prisoners includes demographic characteristics, sentence status and offences characteristics,” she said.
“It further discusses the number and reasons for discharge of prisoners that were discharged from the prison facilities. Prison statistics help to inform policy development and planning in the criminal justice system.”
Mrs Bandama said the total prison population is based on “unlock figures” — a count of all inmates who spent the night in custody on the day before the data was recorded.
“As such, the total prison population is the unlock figures taken on March 28, 2025,” she added.
“The total prison population at the end of the first quarter of 2025 was 23 654 (22 889 males and 765 females)”.
