Story by Peter Chivhima, Courts Reporter
Government is set to introduce the parole system next year as a way of decongesting the country’s prison population.
As part of efforts to decongest the local prison population which approximately stands at 21 000 against a carrying capacity of 17 000 inmates, government is developing strategies to improve prison conditions in line with international standards.
Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) Commissioner General Moses Chihobvu revealed that modalities to introduce the system are now at an advanced stage.
“The parole system is now at an advanced stage. What remains is benchmarking against countries with established programmes and conducting awareness campaigns to inform the public.”
Legal experts have described the development as progressive in transforming the prison system from being punitive to one focused on reintegration.
“The parole system works in the way where the prisoner is permitted to have to serve a part of his sentence. Then, when he served a part of his sentence, he is then given that he is then considered for a less temporal or permanently less subject to certain conditions being attached to the release on power. It allows the offender to contribute in society because they will be allowed to do their work.
“It also reduces the risk of criminal socialisation in prison. When people are in prison, they get into one act with the habitual criminals. When they do that, they start blaming when they get out of prison,” Lawyer, Mr Rungano Mahuni said.
“The parole system will help in reducing the prisons population in the sense that after a thorough vetting process, deserving inmates are given the opportunity to go home and finish their prison terms outside. Another advantage is that decongesting prisons creates a healthy conditions for the remaining inmates. Also inmates are given the opportunity to fend for their families,” another lawyer Mr Kudzai Tichawangana added.
The parole system involves conditional early release of prisoners and eligible inmates may be released upon approval by the President, State Parole Board, Commissioner-General of Prisons or the Minister responsible for Prisons and Correctional Services.
Prisoners out on parole enjoy a fair amount of freedom and return to their families, but are supervised by parole officers.
Some of the considerations for granting parole include whether an inmate has displayed commendable conduct, self-discipline, responsibility and industriousness while in prison.
