OVERVIEW
The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) is established in terms of Section 227 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 20) Act 2013 which states that there shall be a Prisons and Correctional Service which is responsible for :–
The protection of society from criminal elements through the incarceration and rehabilitation of convicted persons and others who are lawfully required to be detained, and their reintegration into society; and the administration of prisons and correctional facilities.
ZPCS is the biggest department falling under the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. It has a total of 46 Prisons, 2 are for female prisoners only (Chikurubi Female and Shurugwi), 17 house male prisoners only, 27 house both males and females as well as 24 satellite prisons (temporary prisons) and 1 open prison. The department has 24 farms with a total arable land of 3 437ha. The official holding capacity is 17 000 whilst our prison population fluctuates around 19 000 inmates.
The Prisons aspect in the name of the organization focuses on the provision of physical security whilst the Correctional aspect caters for offender rehabilitation. Section 50 of the constitution provides for the rights of arrested and detained persons. The administration and conditions of prisons are regulated mainly by the Prisons Act {Chapter 7:11}, the Prisons (General) Regulations, 1996 and the Commissioner General’s Standing Orders which draw a lot of influence from the international standard minimum rules, principles and guidelines on the treatment of offenders. There are other pieces of legislation which are Prisons (Staff)(Discipline) Regulations, 1984, Prisons (General) Regulations, 1968, Prisons (Staff) (Appointment and Discharge) Regulations 1968, Prisons (Staff) (Marriage) Regulations 1983 etc.
The department is headed by the Commissioner-General who provides the superintendence, direction and control of the organisation and further provides an upward link with the Ministry of Justice, Legal & Parliamentary Affairs.
Prisons and Correctional facilities in Zimbabwe are established by the order of the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs while temporary prisons and correctional facilities are established by the Commissioner-General of Prisons and Correctional