BULAWAYO, Jun. 5 (NewsDay Live) — Conjugal rights within Zimbabwe’s prison system are currently limited to inmates housed at open prisons, where prisoners are periodically allowed to visit their families, a senior prison officer has said.
Speaking during a National Aids Council media tour of Khami Maximum Prison on Thursday, Officer-in-Charge Chief Superintendent Panonetsa Chemugarira said the privilege is not available to all inmates.
“As an organisation, not all inmates are enjoying this privilege,” Chemugarira told journalists.
He said inmates at open prisons are granted temporary exits to visit their families, providing an opportunity to maintain marital and family relationships.
“Those inmates who are at the open prison regularly get some exits to go and visit their families. So we assume that is the way they go and enjoy this issue of conjugal rights,” he said.
Chemugarira said the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service continues to implement rehabilitation and welfare programmes aimed at preparing inmates for reintegration into society.
His remarks come amid growing public debate over prisoners’ rights and ongoing correctional reforms within the prison system.
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