KHAMI Maximum Prison Officer-in-Charge, Chief Superintendent Panonetsa Chemugarira, has said only inmates housed at open prisons are currently able to enjoy conjugal rights within the Zimbabwe prison system.
Responding to questions from journalists during the National Aids Council Media tour of the prison on Thursday, Chemugarira said not all inmates have access to the privilege.
“As an organisation, not all inmates are enjoying this privilege,” he said.
He explained that inmates at open prisons are granted regular exits to visit their families, which effectively allows them to exercise conjugal rights.
“Those inmates who are at the open prison regularly get some exits to go and visit their families,” Chemugarira said.
“So we assume that is the way they go and enjoy this issue of conjugal rights.”
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He added that the prison service is also implementing several rehabilitation and welfare programmes for inmates.
The remarks come amid growing public debate on prisoners’ rights and correctional reforms within the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service.