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The high demand for Zimbabwean prison officers on United Nations Peace-keeping Missions is a reflection that the country’s prison systems and rehabilitation programmes are the best in Africa, a senior official has said.
Prisons and Correctional Services Deputy Commissioner (Rehabilitation) Rhodes Moyo was speaking last week at a reception hosted for Chief Superintendent Gilbert Marange and Superintendent Chipo Chada who had just returned from an 18-month mission at Monrovia Central Prison in Liberia and Wau Prison in South Sudan, respectively.
“They have made a great job in representing Zimbabwe and assisting people in other countries,” said Dep Comm Moyo.
“We have one of the best prison systems in Africa and that is why there has been an increase in the number of our members who are assigned in different countries.
“In terms of programmes, we are better than other countries and Zimbabwean prison officers make a lot of recognition when they go out on duty. Other countries get a lot of knowledge from our systems and it is important to notice that our operations have gone beyond the boundaries of Zimbabwe and it is an impressive achievement.”
Dep Comm Moyo commended Chief Supt Marange and Supt Chada for performing well in their peacekeeping duties.
Chief Supt Marange said during his tenure in Liberia they managed to reduce the number of inmates, some of whom had been denied trials for different crimes.
“There was a prison population of 1 078 against the 374 maximum holding capacity at Monrovia Central Prison.
“There were only 128 convicted criminals and we managed to approach the judicial system, prosecution and magistrates and resultantly innocent people were released since Government was wasting resources on them.
“Vulnerable groups such as women were detained. Those aged under 16 were also detained instead of having them go to schools, ‘’he said.
Chief Supt Marange said there were 980 inmates at the end of his tenure in the prison and fast track courts were established, resulting in trials being conducted on a daily basis within the prison’s premises.
Supt Chada said she worked with more than 20 mental patients in South Sudan who were incarcerated because of their condition.
“People were disturbed with wars and detained instead of them to be sent to hospitals for psychiatric evaluation and treatment.
“There were no mental health policies in place and we were involved in the formulation of the policies.”
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