• The LRF was approached by the people of Dora, who were concerned that the Mutare City Council was dumping effluent and raw sewage into Mutare River, affecting the health and wellbeing of their livestock and the general community. Litigation was considered but LRF opted to mobilise Mutare residents to take up the matter with the Environmental Management Authority (EMA). When the LRF later engaged the EMA regional manager he reported that the pollution problem had been resolved as companies were now discharging pollutants into the rehabilitated Gimboki sewer plant rather than the river. The Ward Councillor confirmed that the water was now almost clean even though there was still some residual smell attributed to leakages at the plant Prisons Programme (2) The LRF continued to visit prisons around the country on a monthly basis, to identify inmates languishing on remand – primarily women, youth and those requiring psychiatric or medical assessment – and assisting them with bail applications. The visits also facilitated the building of trust in the LRF on the part of the prison officers who were then prompt in alerting the centres to any cases needing attention. During a visit at Mutimurefu the Officer-in-Charge cited a case in which a 15-year-old boy from Mashava was convicted of being in possession of dangerous weapons (knives) and was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment at Mutimurefu Prison where he was exposed to hardcore criminals, which defies the process of rehabilitating juvenile offenders. He noted that where an offence was not serious, community service would be appropriate and that the incarceration of juveniles should be done only as a last resort. It was noted that eight children below the age of 18 were held at Mutimurefu in D Class, which is the categorisation for the most serious offences (six were convicted of rape, one of attempted rape and one of unlawful entry and theft). This is a clear violation of children’s constitutional rights and child rights principles. Through the LRF intervention all the juveniles were transferred to Whawha Young Offenders Prison. The LRF lodged an appeal in respect of a 17-year-old convicted of rape and sentenced to 12 years in prison and the appeal is yet to be heard. One inmate interviewed at St Thomas Prison, Marondera, was a juvenile aged 17 facing charges of indecent assault and aggravated indecent assault. The record in respect of the juvenile showed that bail was denied. It turned out that there was a mix-up at the courts. LRF pursued the matter and the minor was released into the custody of his parents. The court then removed him from remand and he will be summoned to court when the state is ready for trial. A 17-year-old juvenile was arrested for murder when he was fifteen and had been remanded in the custody of his father. In August 2015, his father surrendered him to be remanded in custody at Mutoko Remand Prison, citing that he was no longer able to bring him to court as the accused was in the habit of disappearing. The murder was said to have happened when he was wrestling with the deceased. The LRF wrote to the National Prosecuting Authority for the juvenile’s speedy prosecution and the NPA indicated that they were awaiting a psychiatric report as they suspect that the juvenile is mentally challenged and this would ensure that his case is heard before the end of 2016. CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT - TRAINING OF SERVICE PROVIDERS (1) 30