A recent joint parliamentary report has exposed the appalling conditions in Zimbabwe’s prisons, where overcrowding, dilapidation, and inhuman treatment have become the norm. The report reveals that most correctional facilities are operating at 200-300% above capacity, with some prisons holding more than triple their intended numbers.

The situation is dire, with inmates living in cramped, unsanitary, and poorly ventilated cells. The report notes that Gwanda Prison is holding 210 inmates in a facility designed for 60, while Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison has 2,689 inmates crammed into facilities meant for 1,114. Harare Remand Prison is also severely overcrowded, with 1,361 inmates in a facility meant for 900.

The report highlights the severe health implications of overcrowding, including increased risk of disease transmission, limited access to healthcare, and inadequate sanitation. Inmates are forced to sleep on wet floors, and some are even beaten for minor infractions. The lack of digital infrastructure also hampers access to justice, leaving many inmates unable to follow up on appeals or trials.

Despite the challenges, the report notes that rehabilitation and reintegration efforts are gaining momentum within the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service. Many prisons are introducing vocational and academic training programs, signaling a shift from a punitive to a correctional model.

The report’s findings are a wake-up call for the government to take immediate action to address the crisis in Zimbabwe’s prisons. With inmates’ lives at risk, it’s time for the government to prioritize prison reform and ensure that correctional facilities are humane and rehabilitative. Anything less would be a recipe for disaster.
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