Zimbabwe’s political cycles have a way of circling back to uncomfortable truths — truths many in power would rather ignore until they are personally confronted by them. One such truth is the state of the country’s prison system.
In November 2017, during the events that led to the fall of Robert Gabriel Mugabe, it is widely believed that Emmerson Mnangagwa briefly left the country, acutely aware of what detention in Zimbabwe could mean. The mere prospect of spending a night in facilities such as Harare Remand Prison was enough to shape decisions at the highest level.
Today, figures such as Patrick Zhuwao, Saviour Kasukuwere and Jonathan Moyo understand this reality all too well. Their continued absence from Zimbabwe without firm political guarantees speaks volumes about the condition and reputation of the country’s correctional institutions. The fear is not only legal — it is humanitarian.
Decades after independence, some argue that Zimbabwe’s prisons are in worse condition than those of the colonial era. If that is even partly true, it demands urgent national introspection. A justice system cannot command respect if its detention facilities are synonymous with degradation.
As political tensions begin to rise again, echoing the atmosphere of 2017, it would be prudent for all political actors to reflect on a simple reality: power is not permanent. Today’s authority figure can easily become tomorrow’s detainee.
Zimbabwe’s political culture has, at times, leaned heavily on the incarceration of opponents as a tool of control — a legacy, perhaps, inherited from colonial governance structures. But if that pattern is to continue, then at the very least, detention conditions must meet basic human standards.
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Sunday’s remarks by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga are a strong reminder. Leadership, he suggested, does not place anyone above the law. Those who fail to govern within its confines may find themselves serving time — not in positions of authority, but in confinement, and not by their own choosing.
That message should not merely be heard — it should be acted upon.
Funds currently directed toward luxury projects such as mansions, elite lifestyles and extensive farm upgrades could be partially redirected toward modernising prison infrastructure. This is not an act of charity. It is an investment in justice, dignity and, ultimately, national stability.
If Zimbabwe is to uphold the rule of law, it must ensure that its prisons reflect the values of a just society, not the remnants of a punitive past. Because history has shown that no one remains untouchable forever.