A DELEGATION from the Namibian correctional services led by Deputy Commissioner-General Mariana Martin is in Zimbabwe to bolster ties and share expertise in correctional and offender management systems, NewsDay can report.
The Namibian delegation includes Commissioner Emilige W van Zyl, who oversees the National Release Board responsible for parole processes.
In a statement, Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) Commissioner General Moses Cyril Chihobvu said a memorandum of understanding (MoU) had been signed between the two countries identifying areas where they were lagging.
Among the delegation is also Commissioner Ankur Kathuria, head of the ICT directorate, who plays a key role in the implementation of Namibia's offender management system.
Kathuria is expected to share how Namibia's offender management system tracks and documents every stage of an offender’s journey, from entry into the correctional system to release to the community.
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs minister Ziyambi Ziyambi told the Namibians that the country enacted a new Prisons and Correctional Service Act, which introduces the parole system.
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“Our focus is shifting more towards the rehabilitation and correction of offenders and we are excited to exchange experiences as we build our own parole system,” Ziyambi said.
The visit marks a significant step in fostering co-operation between Zimbabwe and Namibia in the areas of offender rehabilitation, parole management, and ICT-driven offender management systems.
The exchange is expected to provide valuable insights as Zimbabwe strengthens its correctional services, particularly with the introduction of the parole system aimed at better reintegration of offenders into society.