By A Correspondent

The Zimbabwean government is set to introduce a parole system next year as part of efforts to reduce overcrowding in the country’s prisons. The local prison population currently stands at approximately 21,000, surpassing the facilities’ capacity of 17,000 inmates. In response, the government is developing strategies to improve prison conditions, aligning them with international standards.

Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) Commissioner General, Moses Chihobvu, confirmed that plans to implement the parole system are well advanced. “The parole system is now at an advanced stage. What remains is benchmarking against countries with established programs and conducting awareness campaigns to inform the public,” he stated.

Legal experts have hailed the move as a significant step towards reforming the prison system, shifting the focus from punishment to rehabilitation and reintegration. According to lawyer Rungano Mahuni, the parole system allows offenders to serve part of their sentence before being considered for early release under specific conditions. This system offers inmates the opportunity to reintegrate into society while reducing the risk of further criminal behavior. “When individuals spend time with habitual criminals in prison, it increases the likelihood of them adopting negative behaviors,” Mahuni explained.

Another lawyer, Kudzai Tichawangana, added that the parole system would help alleviate prison overcrowding. After a thorough vetting process, deserving inmates could be granted early release, which would also create healthier conditions for those remaining in prison. “Inmates would have the chance to return home and support their families while finishing their terms outside prison,” Tichawangana said.

The proposed parole system would allow for the conditional early release of prisoners, subject to approval by the President, the State Parole Board, the Commissioner-General of Prisons, or the Minister of Prisons and Correctional Services. While on parole, prisoners will be supervised by parole officers but will enjoy more freedom and be allowed to return to their families. Key factors for consideration in granting parole include an inmate’s conduct, self-discipline, and industriousness while in prison.