RIGHTS BEHIND BARS A Study of Prison Conditions In Zimbabwe 2018 Sino Zimbabwe (a private company) managed to build two classroom blocks but the other classes had been converted from cells. The prison largely relied on well-wishers for donations for stationery, textbooks and exam fees. Furniture and charts were not enough for everyone. There were no computers for research and the student teacher ratio was very high.115 With regards to stationery, textbooks, reading materials and well-equipped libraries, it was clear that the situation currently prevailing in Zimbabwean prisons is inconsistent with international standards of both a ‘soft law’ and ‘hard law’ variety. Given that prisoners and detainees are at the mercy of the State and live in conditions which do not allow them to fend for themselves, the duty of the State to ensure adequate access to educational programmes and learning facilities becomes more compelling. Accordingly, the government should take all appropriate measures to ensure access to education by all children of compulsory school going age and to encourage all prisoners to take part in educational and vocational training programmes. There were numerous opportunities for vocational training of inmates at Connemara Open Prison. There was a workshop that houses a number of departments which include tailoring, carpentry, shoe-making, welding/fabrication and gardening. The tailoring department was responsible for making uniforms for both officers and inmates for the whole of Midlands ZPCS province. They had commercialised their work with both inmates and students from tertiary institutions being attached to the workshop. Due to the shortage of inmates, the Officers often relied on their skilled members and students on attachment from tertiary institutions to support their various departments. At the time of the visit, they had ten sewing working machines which they said were not enough. There was only one boiler iron and there was no library for tailors.116 The shortage of inmates who could take part in some vocational training activities at Connemara tends to suggest that there is need to review the criteria for determining whether a prisoner qualifies to be sent to the open prison. When ZACRO and the Forum visited Connemara Open Prison, the carpentry department was described as a white elephant. There were no Officers manning the workshop and there were no equipment and materials to use. The department relied on hand tools and this was not tenable for a workshop of that magnitude and importance. There was great scope for turning the workshop into an economic hub if resources were channelled to the department.117 The shoemaking workshop was manned by two old inmates including one disabled inmate who did not have any formal training in shoe making. All the skills they had were acquired from the prison. They were simply repairing shoes of officers and of their fellow inmates. There were no skilled officer, nor materials and machinery to use. Like the carpentry department, the shoe-making department was being put to waste even though it had a lot of potential. Similar challenges were also reported in the welding or fabrication department.118 The idea of workshops was very noble for the rehabilitation of inmates which is now fundamental in the new constitutional dispensation when it comes to inmates. Inmates could be equipped with necessary 115 116 117 118 ZACRO and the Forum, Whahwa Young Offenders Prison Monitoring Visit Report, 3. ZACRO and the Forum, Connemara Prison Monitoring Visit Report, 3. ZACRO and the Forum, Connemara Prison Monitoring Visit Report, 3. ZACRO and the Forum, Connemara Prison Monitoring Visit Report, 3. 33