1. Introduction
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) is one of the five
Independent Commissions established by the Constitution of Zimbabwe
Amendment (No.20) Act 2013. The details of the establishment, functions and
reporting mechanisms of the ZHRC are provided for in Sections 242 to 244 of the
Constitution. Within its broad mandate, one of the functions of the ZHRC is to
carry out monitoring and inspection visits to prisons and other places of detention
as well as other related facilities where different categories of people are
institutionalised (S.243(1)(k). With support of the project coordinated by the
Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR), ZHRC visited Whawha ‘Young
Offenders’ Prison in Midlands Province on the 16th of February 2016.
The purpose of the mission was to assess the living conditions of juvenile
inmates and the status of their facilities, as well as to hear the general concerns
of the inmates and their proposals for solutions and recommendations. The visit
aimed also at enabling ZHRC to come up with a report with findings and
recommendations specifically directed to the relevant government ministries and
departments in trying to improve conditions in the juvenile prisons in Zimbabwe.
The team was led by the Chairperson of the ZHRC, Commissioner E.H Mugwadi
who is also the Chairperson of the ZHRC Thematic Working Group (TWG) on
Children’s Rights. Moreso, the visit provided an opportunity for the Commission
to raise visibility on the institution’s role, mandate and work and further
strengthen partnerships with different stakeholders working with inmates.
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