Story by Tafara Chikumira
SOME sections of Whawha Medium Prison and the Young Offenders’ Prison had their roofs destroyed following a hailstorm that swept through the area on Sunday.
The latest incident has further exacerbated accommodation challenges at the two correctional facilities, coming after similar hailstorms that have damaged the prison complex over the past three years.
Prison authorities are now counting their losses and pondering the next course of action to take.
“It is unfortunate that we continue to experience such incidents. The complex has a carrying capacity of 1 600 inmates, and currently, we have over 1 400 inmates. The decommissioning of some cells as a result of the hailstorm means we have to find alternative accommodation for the offenders. We need assistance as of yesterday if we are to keep our prisoners in a dignified manner,” Officer Commanding ZPCS Midlands Province, Commissioner Somemore Gate said.
The government says a disaster management strategy is being put in place.
“Firstly, we will be engaging the Central Protection Unit (CPU) and getting them to come up with a tangible action plan. We are also going to engage the necessary stakeholders and take comprehensive action to deal with the issue of infrastructure at the prison complex. We are determined to give decent accommodation to offenders in line with Vision 2030,” the Director for Economic Affairs and Investment in the OPC, Mr Kosheni Mtisi said.
18 cells with a holding capacity of 350 inmates have since been decommissioned after successive hailstorms that have hit the prison complex in recent years.
