Zimbabwe faces severe prison overcrowding

Zimbabwe's prisons are operating at nearly double their official capacity, with an alarming 27,683 inmates currently held in facilities designed for just 17,800, according to an internal memo from Prosecutor General Loice Matanda-Moyo dated 7 January 2026.

The overcrowding crisis has prompted Matanda-Moyo to issue directives urging public prosecutors to consider alternatives to custodial sentences during bail hearings and sentencing. "Only in deserving cases should prosecutors advocate for custodial sentences," she wrote, stressing the importance of evaluating bail, fines, and community service as viable options to reduce the strain on correctional facilities.

The memo highlights the significant number of unconvicted accused persons currently in custody—5,970 individuals—underscoring the constitutional concern that pre-trial detention should not be automatic. "Our law scoffs at pre-trial incarceration… An accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Generally, it is undesirable for an unconvicted person to be denied his or her liberty except in exceptional circumstances," Matanda-Moyo noted.

To alleviate the overcrowding, prosecutors have been instructed to urgently review bail conditions, particularly for those detained simply because they cannot afford monetary bail, and to avoid keeping individuals in custody for minor offences. The directive also encourages the use of fast-track courts to expedite non-complex cases that are likely to attract non-custodial sentences.

Additionally, prosecutors are reminded to ensure that no accused person is held for more than six months without trial, except in serious cases or under exceptional circumstances. The measures are part of a broader effort to protect constitutional rights, reduce prison congestion, and uphold the principle of presumption of innocence for all accused persons.

The memo brings renewed focus to Zimbabwe's longstanding prison overcrowding issue, highlighting the urgent need for reforms in the criminal justice system to prevent human rights violations and improve conditions within correctional facilities.