By Dickson Bandera
Zimbabwe is set to introduce a formal parole system that will allow eligible inmates to serve part of their remaining sentences outside prison under supervision — a major milestone in the country’s shift toward a modern, rehabilitation-centred correctional model.
The programme is expected to roll out in 2026, and preparations for its implementation are now in full swing.
This development comes as stakeholders from across Africa are meeting in Harare for a four-day conference to help shape Zimbabwe’s parole framework. Delegates from countries with long-standing parole systems — including Namibia, Tanzania, and South Africa — as well as countries yet to adopt the model, are sharing experiences, challenges, and lessons learned to guide Zimbabwe’s approach.
A parole system allows inmates who have served a portion of their sentence — and who meet clearly defined behavioural and legal requirements — to be conditionally released into the community under strict monitoring. Its key objectives include rehabilitation, reintegration into society, and easing congestion in prisons.
Countries that have implemented parole report effectiveness with c Tanzania noting that it has not faced challenges during its 19 years of running the system.
Zimbabwe’s prisons currently hold a large inmate population across 54 facilities — a figure that authorities say exceeds the intended capacity.
The planned reforms come as the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) continues strengthening rehabilitation-focused initiatives such as skills development, counselling, and community-based reintegration programmes.
However, authorities emphasize that several critical enablers must be established for the parole system to function effectively. These include developing a robust electronic offender-management system, piloting the model before full rollout, and ensuring strong participation from community leaders and local structures.
However, stakeholders highlighted concerns around public safety, including whether communities and victims will feel secure once inmates are released into their neighbourhoods.
Delegates from across the region presented insights from their countries’ systems.
The introduction of parole is expected to create a structured, merit-based, and consistent approach to supervised inmate release.
