programming. Such interventions by ZACRO were in line with complementing efforts by Zimbabwe Prison Service (ZPS) which involved introduction of more professionals like social workers to work around the welfare, rehabilitation of inmates and restoration ex-offenders into the main stream society. The interventions were testimony involving shifting prisons from mere incarceration centers to correctional and rehabilitative institutions while Zimbabwe maintains UN and other protocols on Standard Minimum Treatment Rules of prisoners to which the country is a signatory. Overcrowding in prisons Many of the prisons remained too small United Nations standard minimum rules and very old after converted by of treating prisoners to which Zimbabwe is a signatory. As the result government from farm houses into prisons. Examples are Hurungwe and overcrowding was one of the Tabudirira farm prisons. Other prisons predisposing conditions for the spread like Mazoe farm prison and Chikurubi of diseases such as HIV/AIDS and female prison which were made of opportunistic diseases like TB, and cholera which resulted in deaths of corrugated metal structures during the colonial days remained not expanded some continued to be recorded at and refurbished. In these prisons various prisons mainly -Chikurubi Maximum and Harare Central prisons inadequate floor space in cells further among others. resulted in overcrowding which relatively did not match Hygiene and sanitation cleaning facilities such as detergents, • Poor hygiene and sanitation brooms and protective cloths when was major concern in the prisons. Water cleaning cells and toilets. Lack of cuts were frequent. On many occasions sanitary facilities – saw inmates ending this saw sanitation consisting of one up tearing their ragged blankets when bucket in the corner of a multi-occupied relieving themselves in the toilets which cell, with water for washing and drinking frequently saw the toilets blocking. Also being provided in another bucket. Most some cells did not have a toilet. This cells in the country’s prisons with toilets was most common with female prisons were not flashing due to unavailability of in the country. Inmates in cells without water and malfunctions, thus health toilets ended up using a bucket for hazards increased in the prisons. At relieving themselves. The health times - some of the ill inmates with hazards associated with this practice communicable diseases were not remained major worry to the inmates separated – a situation that saw those who did not have soap to wash their affected by opportunistic diseases such hands, bodies or uniforms. as TB affecting others. Let alone, many of the female prisons did not have Uniform and bedding needs • There was great need for adequate bedding and uniform requirements in the prisons. In fact shortage of uniforms was major cause of concern in prisons. Many times prisoners were seen wearing tattered and torn uniforms. There were also reports of prisoners going almost naked while they had the right to proper clothing like other human beings. In fact most inmates had one pair of shorts and shirts apparently tattered and torn and rarely washed due to inadequacy of water and soap. Where there was severe overcrowding, prisoners could sleep on the floor while blankets were inadequate. Disadvantaged group of prisoners that included women and their 10