About Prison Services

The Zimbabwe Prison Service (ZPS) is a uniformed Para-military organisation under the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, established in terms of section 99(1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe and is headed by the Commissioner of Prisons.

It is the largest of 12 departments which fall under the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and the other departments are:

• Deeds Office
• Law Development Commission
• Policy and Legal Research
• Administration and Finance
• Ombudsman
• Attorney General's Office
• Magistrates Court
• Registrar of High Court
• Master of High Court
• Supreme Court
• Judicial College

In terms of section 113 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Prison Service is not part of the Public Service.

The historical analysis of the Prison Service provides that imprisonment as a penal measure was introduced in Zimbabwe by the Colonial settlers. It can however be noted that this penal system has seen quite a number of progressive changes and improvements.

There are 42 prisons in Zimbabwe with a total holding capacity of about 17 000 prisoners. Presently the prison population is fluctuating around 18 000 and of these 70% are convicted prisoners while 30% are unconvicted prisoners. Female prisoners and juveniles constitute 3% and 1,8% of the total prison population respectively. The majority of the prisoners in Zimbabwe are in the age group of 18-40 years.

Below is a Pie Chart showing a breakdown of the Prison Population by Sex:-

PRISON POPULATION BY SEX

Pie Chart showing a breakdown of convicted and unconvicted prisoners

CONVICTED AND UNCONVICTED INMATES

Bar Charts showing a breakdown of the Prison Population by age group

MALE INMATES FEMALE INMATES

During the year 2005 the prison service spent around $2 570 000-00 per inmate per month which converts to over $85 500 per day.

Acts and Statutes used in the Management of Prisons

The ZPS relies on a number of Acts and statutory instruments that guide its operations, some of which are:

• Prisons Act Chapter 7:11.
• Mental Health Act
• Official Secrets Act.
• Prisons (General) Regulations, 1996.
• Prisons (Staff)(Appointment and Discharge) Regulations.
• Prisons (Staff) (Discharge) Regulations.
• Prisons (Staff) (Leave) Regulations.
• Prisons (Staff) (Marriage) Regulations.
• Prisons (Staff) (Promotion) Regulations.
• Prisons (Staff) (General) Regulations.
• Prisons (Staff) (Pay) Regulations.
• Prisons (Staff) (Medical Benefit) Regulations.
• Prisons (Staff) (Travelling and Subsistence) Regulations.
• Prisons (Staff) (Auxiliary Members) Regulations.

Zimbabwe is a signatory to a number of United Nations Charters and as such, the ZPS complies with the requirements of certain UN Charters such as the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Offenders.