Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services(ZPCS) have reiterated that prisoners can be temporarily released to be with their families at family gatherings. This is in accordance with the Prison Act.
This reiteration came in the wake of complaints circulating after alleged land baron Felix Munyaradzi was seen attending a funeral. The mentioned funeral took place during Munyaradzi’s incarceration period last year.
Speaking on the matter, ZPCS’s spokesperson Principal Correction Officer Peter Chaparanganda remarked:
“The organisation would like to categorically state and advise the public that Felix Munyaradzi, an inmate remanded in custody at Harare Remand Prison, was granted temporary release from prison to go and attend the funeral of his father-in-law by the Minister of Justice, legal and Parliamentary Affairs Honourable Ziyambi Ziyambi on 14 August 2020.
The case of Felix Munyaradzi is not the only case where incarcerated inmates have been legally granted temporary release from prison. Several have previously benefited in line with the provisions of the Prisons Act whenever circumstances warranted the granting of such release.
Previously requests were granted, for prisoners who know the law, to attend weddings and funerals. They can even be released to marry their loved ones, with the minister’s permission.”
These remarks coincide with Section 129 of the Prison’s Act, Chapter 7:11, which states:
“The Minister may, subject to such conditions as he may specify, grant a prisoner permission in writing to be absent from prison for a specified period for personal, family or other reasons if, in the opinion of the minister, the circumstances of the case warrant the granting of such permission.”
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