Zimpapers Logo

Diana Nherera Herald Reporter
The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) has acquired 34 000 metres of fabric to sew clothes for inmates. Appearing before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs and Security Services yesterday, Deputy Commissioner-General Agrey Machingauta said the fabric was bought two weeks ago and would be dispatched to prisons soon.

“We have now done a quotation for blankets and await Treasury to avail funds as blankets that are available are not enough after some were burnt during the attempted jailbreak in March,” said Dep Comm-Gen Machingauta.

“Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services calls on Treasury to fund us as inmates belong to the community and we cannot open gates for them to go home just because we have been unable to feed them,” said Dep Comm-Gen Machingauta.

He said toilets were in a deplorable state and in need of repairs and they had been unable to carry out small repairs such as the flushing system.

“When funding is not availed, we fail to even repair a cistern,” said Dep Comm-Gen Machingauta.

He said there was need for income generating projects as part of the prisons’ long-term strategic plan.

“We want to start with Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison, Mazowe Farm Prison and Hurungwe Prison and engage in irrigation farming so that we can be assured that we are able to look after prisoners without going to Treasury for funding.

“We have requested $500 000 for Hurungwe Prison from Treasury, but have not received a response,” said Dep Comm-Gen Machingauta.

He said ZPCS had applied for agriculture equipment, but had not received anything.