THE Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) is facing serious operational challenges owing to shortage of resources, Parliament’s Human Rights Committee heard yesterday. It emerged during a tour of the Chikurubi Maximum and the Harare Central prisons by a Senate Human Rights Committee that the ZPCS was grappling with acute shortage of food, fuel, drugs, clothes and other important things.

Inmates at Chikurubi Maximum prison fetch water from a tap. Water shortages, overcrowding and shortage of basic commodities are some of the challenges that the prison faces.
An inmate chops firewood to be used for cooking at Chikurubi Maximum prison on Wednesday.
Pots full of sadza for inmates inside the prison’s kitchen.
An inmate at Chikurubi Maximum prison prepares lunch for fellow inmates.
Some of the male inmates at Chikurubi Maximum prison.
Soccer shirts laid in the prison courtyard to dry at Harare Central prison.
Some of the psychiatric patients at Chikurubi Maximum prison.
Senator Michael Carter talks to an inmate at Chikurubi maximum prison.