Prison service to recruit over 12 000

By Lovemore Mataire

Government has approved the recruitment of 12 671 additional staff for the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services, subject to Treasury concurrence.

The drive to recruit additional staff was revealed last Friday by Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service boss Commissioner-General Paradzai Zimondi at a function to celebrate the elevation of the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Emmerson Mnangagwa to the office of Vice President.

“I am happy to mention that courtesy of your unwavering support, the department’s bid for expansion for its staff establishment received a positive nod. Approval was given to increase staff establishment from 10 329 to 22 000 posts subject to Treasury concurrence,” said Comm-Gen Zimondi.

He said the recruitment was necessitated by the department’s expansion, restructuring and re-organisation in line with provisions contained in the new Constitution.

Zimondi said the department had managed with limited resources to successfully implement the 2013 amnesty exercise which resulted in the decongestion of prisons.

He also paid tribute to Vice President Mnangagwa’s wife, Auxilia Mnangagwa, for assisting inmates in setting up income- generating projects which included potato production at Whawha Prison Complex and Shurugwi Prisons.

Zimondi said other projects that were spearheaded by Mrs Mnangagwa included goat rearing at Mutimurefu Prison, poultry projects at Whawha Prison Complex and soap-making projects at Chiredzi and Zvishavane prisons. The Herald