Story by Sifiso Sibanda
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has reaffirmed government’s support to the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) for the organisation to discharge its duties with diligence.
Speaking at the Joint Recruit Correctional Officers Pass-Out Parade at Ntabazinduna Training School this Monday, President Mnangagwa commended the physical and intellectually demanding transformative phase of being nurtured into correctional officers.
“The transformative process from civilian orientation to correctional officers exposed graduates to rigorous physical and theoretical training spanning 6 months. The areas covered have shaped them to be the officers standing before us today. Training in areas such as basic security, constitutionalism, national ideology, human rights, gender and development will undoubtedly assist the young officers to play their part in fostering a just and effective correctional system,” said the President.
He also spoke on the importance of the digital technology revolution as the cornerstone of modernisation, industrialisation and efficient service delivery.
“The appropriate use of technology in the correctional domain can significantly enhance security, efficiency, management and rehabilitation efforts. In this regard, as correctional officers, there is need to adopt new technologies and the smart prison concept in the discharge of your duties.”
The Head of State noted that the ZPCS is a vital cog in the national development agenda and highlighted the need for unwavering loyalty, discipline and strong commitment from ZPCS officers.
He said, “I further, urge you to work wholeheartedly and diligently, whilst upholding constitutionalism. Your integrity must remain untarnished by selfish interests. Any form of indiscipline that could taint the reputation of the service, Government and nation at large will not be tolerated. In this vein, my administration remains resolute in combating all forms of corrupt tendencies.”
Meanwhile, the ZPCS has been praised for attaining global recognition after participating at the International Corrections and Prisons Association Annual meeting in Singapore recently.
