6. Prisons 6.1. The ZHRC also visited the following prisons; Harare Remand Prison, Chikurubi Maximum Prison, Chikurubi Female Prison and Chinhoyi Prison. During the visits to prisons, ZHRC only managed to interact with prison officials (except at Chikurubi Female Prison) as access to inmates was denied. This was despite the fact that there had been a standing agreement between ZHRC and ZPCS for ZHRC to visit any prison on any day in accordance with its mandate, and also that the Commissioners for both institutions had reached a verbal agreement to allow the mission to be conducted. ZHRC was advised at one of the prisons that they needed to request for permission to interact with inmates and the institution would select the “appropriate” inmates to interact with the ZHRC. In other Provinces, ZHRC was asked to submit a formal request and then wait for feedback within a short period of time. However, ZHRC was latter informed that it was required to come with a clearance note from the ZPCS Headquarters in Harare. 6.2. Suspects identification/arrests At Chikurubi Maximum Prison, ZHRC was informed that during the protests, there were some security agents that were planted amongst the mob, and that is how perpetrators of violence were then identified, followed up and arrested. At Harare Remand Prison, ZHRC was also advised that there had been a security screening for all accused persons who were charged with public violence and that they were all directed to be housed at Chikurubi Prison, as they were considered a national security threat. As of 19 January 2019 at Chikurubi Maximum Prison, there were a total of 2 599 inmates, versus a holding capacity of 2600, 235 of these were charged with public violence. The staff at all the prisons visited indicated that they were managing the numbers and there was no strain on the institutions. Page 54 of 68