Cabinet on Tuesday approved changes to the Prisons Act in a
move that will see prisoners being accorded constitutional rights they deserve
in line with international norms and standards. Prisoners will be allowed to
consult a medical practitioner of choice at their own expense, while the parole
system will be broadened to accommodate all categories of prisoners.
Further, the new prison system will cater for the needs of
vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women, juvenile offenders, as well as the
disabled and other special categories of society with special needs.
Briefing journalists after a Cabinet meeting, Information,
Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said Cabinet had
approved principles for the repeal and subsequent enactment of the new Prisons
Act.
“Cabinet considered a submission on principles for the
repeal and subsequent enactment of the new Prisons Act by the Minister of
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs,” she said.
“The repeal of the Prisons Act is principally aimed at
addressing the inadequacies of the existing legislation through incorporating
international norms and standards relating to prisons administration as well as
to align the domestic law to the Constitution.
“More particularly, the proposed legislation seeks to
achieve, inter alia, modernising the prisons legislation with a view to
ensuring that it accords with international norms and standards regarding the
administration and treatment of prisoners; promoting community involvement in
prisons correctional services in order to ensure that prisoners do not face
difficulties and hostilities upon reintegration into society and establishment
of correctional community centres throughout the country.”
Giving an insight of the new changes, Justice, Legal and
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said the Bill should be in
Parliament by May.
On correctional community centres, Minister Ziyambi said:
“They are basically open prisons. Some of our offenders we will allow them to
stay there, where they get life skills, rehabilitated and be prepared to be
integrated back into society.”
Minister Mutsvangwa said Cabinet had received progress
reports on the 100-day projects under the Ministries of Women Affairs,
Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development and Information Communication
Technology and Courier Services. Herald
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