Harare Remand Prison

ZIMSEC O Level History Notes: The Constitution of Zimbabwe: Prisons and Correctional Service and its functions

  • There is a Prisons and Correctional Service which is responsible for:
    1. The protection of society from criminals through the incarceration and rehabilitation of convicted persons and others who are lawfully required to be detained, and their reintegration into society
    2. The administration of prisons and correctional facilities
  • The Prisons and Correctional Service must be non-partisan, national in character, patriotic, professional and subordinate to the civilian authority as established by this Constitution.

Commissioner-General of Prisons and Correctional Service

  • The Prisons and Correctional Service is under the command of a Commissioner-General of the Prisons and Correctional Service appointed by the President after consultation with the Minister responsible for the Prisons and Correctional Service
  • The Commissioner-General of the Prisons and Correctional Service is appointed for a five-year term which may be renewed once

 

Establishment and composition of Prisons and Correctional Service Commission

  • There is a Prisons and Correctional Service Commission consisting of a chairperson, who must be the chairperson of the Civil Service Commission, and a minimum of two and a maximum of six other members appointed by the President
  • Members of the Prisons and Correctional Service Commission must be chosen for their knowledge of or experience in administration, management, security affairs, or for their professional qualifications or their general suitability for appointment, at least half of them must be persons who are not and have not been members of the Prisons and Correctional Service and at least one of them must have held senior rank in the Prisons and Correctional Service for one or more periods amounting to at least five years

Functions of Prisons and Correctional Service Commission

  • The Prisons and Correctional Service Commission has the following functions:
    1. To appoint qualified and competent persons to hold posts or ranks in the Prisons and Correctional Service
    2. To fix and regulate conditions of service, including salaries, allowances and other benefits, of members of the Prisons and Correctional Service
    3. To ensure the general well-being and good administration of the Prisons and Correctional Service and its maintenance in a high state of efficiency
    4. To ensure that members of the Prisons and Correctional Service comply with the Code of Conduct for the Prison Services
    5. To foster harmony and understanding between the Prisons and Correctional Service and civilians
    6. To advise the President and the Minister on any matter relating to the Prisons and Correctional Service

To access more topics go to the History Notes page.