RIGHTS BEHIND BARS A Study of Prison Conditions In Zimbabwe 2018 enjoy the same bundle of rights throughout the country. (f) The State should drill boreholes at all prisons to manage the water crisis in prisons, particularly in light of the fact that prisons that have boreholes in their premises rarely experience water supply problems. (g) When it comes to bedding and adequate clothing, it is recommended that the prison administration address chronic shortages of relevant items as soon as possible. The State should respect principles of equality and non-discrimination to ensure similar treatment of all prisoners and detainees at all correctional facilities. At a more practical level, the State should commit more resources towards purchasing prison garb to ensure that detainees enjoy the right to be treated in conditions that are consistent with human dignity. (h) It is recommended that the State provide adequate food items to all prisons. In its distributive policies, the State should prioritise prisons that house mental patients and other vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities, women and young offenders. (i) To ensure compliance with every person’s right to conditions of detention that are consistent with human dignity and to the provision at State expense of adequate accommodation, ablution facilities and personal hygiene as provided in the Constitution and international law, the State should provide access to adequate water for ablution purposes. (j) In the context of detainees’ access to education and vocational training, the State should develop educational programmes and learning facilities for all persons deprived of their liberty as a means to make their re-integration into communities upon release possible. Further, the State should address the shortage of qualified staff and learning materials at many of the prisons and detention facilities. In addition, composite classes involving pupils of different grades or forms should, as a rule, be avoided to limit the confusion of detainees in lower grades or forms. (k) With regards to vocational training, it is recommended that the system of workshops continue to be utilised in the way it has been utilised in the past however they should be equipped and properly resourced. The State, particularly the prisons department, should also facilitate for trade testing on those who would have successfully completed the training in various fields. The officers in every department should be highly qualified to ensure that inmates get appropriate training while serving time in prison. (l) As far as access to health care services is concerned, it is recommended that detainees be 39

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