BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA
The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) will strengthen ties and share expertise in correctional and offender management systems with their Namibian counterparts.
This follows a visit by a delegation led by Deputy Commissioner General Mariana Martin, from the Namibian Correctional Service.
The delegation which was accompanied by ZPCS Commissioner General, Dr Moses Cyril Ngawaite Chihobvu, paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi, at his offices.
And in his introductory remarks, Commissioner General Chihobvu highlighted the importance of the collaboration between the two correctional institutions.
“We signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under which several key initiatives are set to be implemented starting this year.
“As ZPCS, we have identified areas where we are lagging and have requested the Namibian Correctional Service to assist us in strengthening those areas,” he said.
Minister Ziyambi welcomed the delegation and expressed Zimbabwe’s eagerness to learn from Namibia’s experiences.
“I am very pleased with the composition of the team that has come. We have recently enacted a new Prisons and Correctional Service Act, which introduces the parole system.
“Our focus is shifting more towards the rehabilitation and correction of offenders, and we are excited to exchange experiences as we build our own parole system,” he said.
The Namibian delegation also includes Commissioner Emilige W. Van Zyl, who oversees the National Release Board responsible for parole processes.
Deputy Commissioner General Martin explained that Commissioner Van Zyl’s expertise would be instrumental in sharing how the Namibian Correctional Service manages the parole process.
“The Commissioner is here to explain how we handle the release of prisoners on parole, sharing insights on how our system operates,” she said.
The delegation also includes Commissioner Ankur Kathuria, head of the ICT Directorate, who plays a key role in the implementation of Namibia’s Offender Management System.
And he will be sharing how the system tracks and documents every stage of an offender’s journey, from entry into the correctional system to their release into the community.
This integrated approach supports vital processes such as rehabilitation and eventual reintegration.
The visit marks a significant step in fostering cooperation between Zimbabwe and Namibia in the areas of offender rehabilitation, parole management, and ICT-driven offender management systems. The exchange is expected to provide valuable insights as Zimbabwe strengthens its correctional services, particularly with the introduction of the parole system aimed at better reintegrating offenders into society.
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