Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba
Senior Reporter
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi and South Africa’s Minister of Correctional Services, Dr Pieter Groeneveld, are this week expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two countries.
The agreement will focus on the transfer of offenders between South Africa and Zimbabwe, information sharing, human resource development, technical cooperation, exchange visits, and self-sustainability projects in correctional centres, particularly in agriculture and industry.
The bilateral engagement was also attended by South African Police Service National Commissioner Makgothi Thobakgale, who highlighted the importance of stronger cooperation between correctional authorities across Africa.
The new agreement is expected to improve collaboration on prison management, rehabilitation programmes, and the handling of foreign national offenders serving sentences in either country.
The two ministers said the agreement will allow South Africa and Zimbabwe to learn from each other, exchange expertise, share best practices, conduct official visits and improve correctional facilities in both countries.
A key part of the proposed agreement is the transfer of offenders between the two countries, allowing South African prisoners in Zimbabwe and Zimbabwean prisoners in South Africa to serve their sentences closer to their families.
Minister Groenewald said research shows many foreign inmates prefer serving their sentences in their home countries because regular family contact plays an important role in rehabilitation and reducing the chances of reoffending.
In his address, Minister Ziyambi said the agreement is part of broader efforts by South Africa and Zimbabwe to strengthen cooperation ahead of the Bi-National Commission meeting between President Cyril Ramaphosa and President Mnangagwa.
The MoU will formalise cooperation in offender rehabilitation, knowledge-sharing, staff development, information exchange and prisoner transfers between the two neighbouring countries.
