THE Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) has
refuted claims on social media and other debates that former Minister of
Tourism and Hospitality Industry Priscah Mupfumira — who is in jail for grand
corruption — has been getting special treatment in and out of remand prison.
Social media yesterday was awash with pictures and videos
of Mupfumira coming to court smartly dressed and holding a handbag as well as
toiletry bag in her hand.
It is alleged that Mupfumira got a special seat in the
prison van and used the back door entrance to enter the court for her bail
hearing yesterday.
However, in an interview with The Herald yesterday, Chief
Correctional Officer and national public relations officer for ZPCS Meya
Khanyezi said unconvicted prisoners like Mupfumira have special rights they are
entitled to.
‘‘We have Section 78 of Prisons Act Chapter 7:11 which says
an unconvicted prisoner may be permitted to maintain himself and to arrange for
the purchase or receive from private sources at proper hours items such as
food, bedding clothing or other necessities as the commissioner may from time
to time determine,” she said.
‘‘Section 80 further states that if an unconvicted prisoner
does not provide himself with food, clothing and bedding, he shall receive
normal prison food, clothing and bedding,” she added.
Her clarification is in line with the findings of an
independent body about the rights of prisoners in Zimbabwe.
A 2018 report by the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum,
titled “RIGHTS BEHIND BARS: A Study of Prison Conditions In Zimbabwe” concluded
that Zimbabwe prisons were in compliance with international and domestic standards
on conditions of detention to make recommendations.
The central aim of the study was to determine whether the
conditions in our prisons are consistent with the international and domestic
standards that are provided for in international instruments, the Constitution
and the Prisons Act (Chapter 7:11).
“To make this determination, the Forum, in conjunction with
the Zimbabwe Association for Crime Prevention and Rehabilitation of the
Offender (ZACRO), carried out prison monitoring visits at seven correctional or
custodial institutions representing different types of prisons in the country
and found out that Zimbabwe was at 80 percent compliance level in terms of
providing prisoners with dignity, cell conditions and sanitations, bedding,
adequate clothing, the right to sufficient food.
“The study also found out that the prisoners are getting
education as well as various forms of vocational trainings and work.
“The study also recommended that the prisoners have a right
to clean water and the right to health care services,” said the organisation.
Herald
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