News / National
Zim prisons porous, 78 prisoners escape
03 Oct 2014 at 09:37hrs | Views
A REPORT from the country's prisons, the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPS) indicates that at least 78 prisoners have escaped from the country's correctional facilities in the past 24 months, raising concerns over the laxity of security at prisons.
But ZPS spokesperson Chief Superintendent Elizabeth Banda allayed fears saying ZPCS was in the process of tightening security at most prisons in the wake of the escapes.
Banda said despite the escapes, Zimbabwe still met international standards in terms of prison security saying the country's system was in line with the United Nations minimum standard rules for the treatment of offenders.
"In most cases, prisoners in our custody escape from their place of work, which are mainly outside the perimeter fence which cannot be monitored by CCTVs.
"We have recoded 78 escapes in two years, 43 in 2013 and 35 in 2014," she was quoted by the Herald today.
"B Class prisoners have dominated in the escape record. This category is always exposed outside the prison since it is the one which is allowed to work outside prisons," the Herald reported.
Chief Supt Banda said Mashonaland region topped the number of escapees with two officers being assaulted during the escapes.
She said this year alone, Mashonaland region had 17 escapes, Manicaland 6, Midlands and Masvingo 5 and Matabeleland 7.
Prisoners usually sneak away and sometimes daringly dash for their freedom risking the lives of prison officers.
But ZPS spokesperson Chief Superintendent Elizabeth Banda allayed fears saying ZPCS was in the process of tightening security at most prisons in the wake of the escapes.
Banda said despite the escapes, Zimbabwe still met international standards in terms of prison security saying the country's system was in line with the United Nations minimum standard rules for the treatment of offenders.
"In most cases, prisoners in our custody escape from their place of work, which are mainly outside the perimeter fence which cannot be monitored by CCTVs.
"B Class prisoners have dominated in the escape record. This category is always exposed outside the prison since it is the one which is allowed to work outside prisons," the Herald reported.
Chief Supt Banda said Mashonaland region topped the number of escapees with two officers being assaulted during the escapes.
She said this year alone, Mashonaland region had 17 escapes, Manicaland 6, Midlands and Masvingo 5 and Matabeleland 7.
Prisoners usually sneak away and sometimes daringly dash for their freedom risking the lives of prison officers.
Source - Herald
