Open prison for women promotes reintegration
(Rule 45, Chapter 7)
Marondera Female Open Prison opened on 2 June 2021 – the first of its kind in Zimbabwe and the wider region. Women who have served a third of their sentences with a record of good behaviour are eligible to transfer to the open prison, where they can start to prepare for life after release. The open prison consists of new buildings and gardens and has minimal security measures. Women housed in the open prison may wear clothing of their own choosing, they prepare their own food and can pursue academic and professional education. Women live in single rooms and have access to television and internet. Women can also visit their families through home leave in preparation for their reintegration. The available rehabilitation activities include garment making, tailoring, hair dressing, farming (horticulture), and livestock rearing.
One of the 29 women said: “At the close prison, we had to leave our babies at the nursery every morning, but here we get to breastfeed them as much as we want and spend most of time with them. The open prison system is designed to enable inmates to reintegrate into society as easily as possible, to facilitate that inmates here will be allowed to go home and visit their families and be in the community for five days every month. That time is important to maintain relations, our husbands and boyfriends.”
For more information see:
All Africa, ‘Zimbabwe: Female Open Prison Brings Relief‘.
Gambakwe, ‘Women praise the Marondera Open Prison’.
Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service, ‘ZPCS establishes Open Prison for Females’.