Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) in Manicaland is at the advanced stages of developing a Digital Inmate Management System to enhance record-keeping and streamline prison operations.
The system, designed to modernise inmate records management, will improve efficiency in tracking admissions, sentence progressions and release dates.
It is being developed in collaboration with Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences (MSUAS), which is providing technical expertise and resources.
ZPCS Manicaland public relations officer, Chief Correctional Officer Liberty Mhlanga said the initiative marks a significant shift from manual record-keeping to a secure and transparent digital platform.
“ZPCS’ IT department partnered with MSUAS for the development of the digital inmate management system,” he said.
The project, which began last year, is expected to be fully operational within six months.
Chief Correctional Officer Mhlanga said the digitalisation drive aligns with national goals of modernising public service delivery and strengthening security measures within correctional facilities.
“With the wealth of human resources that ZPCS Manicaland has, we should not be found lagging behind in terms of ICT,” he said.
“This system will make our work easier by providing instant access to inmate records and helping us to track their rehabilitation progress more effectively.”
MSUAS’s director of ICT, Mr Fanuel Chinyasa said the system will be a game-changer in correctional facility management.
“We are working closely with ZPCS to tailor this system to their specific needs,” he said.
“Our aim is to develop a user-friendly and highly secure digital platform that streamlines inmate data management, improves accountability and enhances the overall efficiency of prison administration.”
