6.3.
Rights of Juvenile Offenders and women
6.3.1. ZHRC received feedback that juveniles were kept separate from adults
at prisons. At the time of the visit at Chikurubi Maximum Prison, it was
reported that there were only 2 juveniles in prison, the majority of them
had been released into the custody of their guardians and some to the
Department of Social Welfare. At Saint Thomas in Marondera and
Chinhoyi Prison
prison officials indicated that they were housing
juvenile inmates separately from adults although they did not ascertain
the numbers. Women were also detained separately from their male
counterparts in all the prisons monitored.
6.3.2. During the monitoring visit to Chikurubi Female Prison, the
Commission was informed that 21 females had been detained due to
public violence and 8 had gone to court upon our arrival. However, the
Commission only interacted with 7 women. The detainees all indicated
that they were being legally represented but were not sure of the
names of the law firms/lawyers. They had no complaints with their
accommodation aside from the lack of toiletries and buckets.
Complaints of harassment and threats by other inmates were raised by
the detainees as well.
6.4.
Contact with outside world
6.4.1. The ZHRC was advised that visits to inmates were allowed at
designated times. It was further advised that for one to have access to
an inmate, they were required to indicate a direct relationship or that
they were accused persons’ legal practitioners. Other persons such as
“just friends” or humanitarian agents, were not allowed to either talk to
inmates or to bring food for inmates. Nevertheless, inmates were
allowed to receive food from outside, provided it was coming in with
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