Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) has urged correctional officers to maintain professional conduct and avoid being confrontational when dealing with inmates.
This was revealed by Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) Legal Officer for Harare Metropolitan Province, Principal Correctional Officer (PCO) Lilian Nyathi.
She said this to minimise complaints to the Zimbabwe Independent Complaints Commission (ZICC).
PCO Nyathi said officers should avoid physical confrontation and use established disciplinary and administrative procedures when dealing with inmate misconduct.
“If inmates violate prison offences, officers must use lawful disciplinary procedures to maintain discipline within correctional facilities rather than use physical confrontation.
“Officers should embrace change when it comes to dealing with misbehaving inmates.
“ZPCS has adopted a dynamic approach which embraces the Mandela Rules when it comes to inmates’ treatment.
“In this 21st century, human dignity must be observed and every incarcerated individual should be treated in a humane way as prescribed by the law,” she said.
She said ZICC provided an independent complaints mechanism for inmates and members of the public who allege abuse by members of security services.
PCO Nyathi said the modernisation of correctional facilities required officers to shift from a punitive mindset to a correctional approach to support the rehabilitation of inmates as required by the Constitution.
ZICC is constitutionally mandated to monitor misconduct by security forces against civilians.
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