daniel chigunwe
Nqobile Bhebhe
Bulawayo Bureau
The Second Republic is committed to the digital technology revolution, which is the cornerstone of modernisation, industrialisation and efficient service delivery to drive sustainable economic growth, President Mnangagwa said.
Speaking at a pass-out parade of 1 620 recruits at Ntabazinduna Training School in Umguza District yesterday, President Mnangagwa urged the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) to embrace, adopt, and implement technology to improve efficiencies in their operations, as they play a crucial role in the security sector and national development agenda.
“The appropriate use of technology in the correctional domain can significantly enhance security efficiency, management and rehabilitation efforts. In this regard, as correctional officers, there is need to adopt new technologies and the smart prison concept in the discharge of your duties,” said President Mnangagwa.
The Head of State and Government added that modern data analysis techniques should be deployed in assessing the behaviours of inmates and risk levels.
“These and other innovations should inform the design of robust intervention strategies which are tailored to individual needs and current trends. However, it is crucial to implement these technologies ethically so that they effectively contribute to the overall goals of rehabilitation and public safety,” he said.
Government is establishing a community information centre at the ZPCS Ntabazinduna Training School, which upon completion will be accessible to the local community.
President Mnangagwa said the centre
is also part of efforts to accelerate digital transformation for economic growth and innovation in line with the philosophy of “leaving no one and no place behind”.
He commended the training school for continuously making strides to buttress Government programmes of economic empowerment through the implementation of projects that enhance production and productivity.
The President said the promotion of innovation and entrepreneurship using own resources in the process reducing reliance on fiscal support, is also commendable.
ZPCS has embraced a commercial business model dimension as part of its broad-based approach towards boosting revenue and self-sustenance in line with the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).
The thrust dovetails with the organisation’s “smart prison concept” driven by the fact that ZPCS is now correctional in outlook and business-oriented.
Already, ZPCS has embarked on several income-generating projects being undertaken at the country’s correctional and rehabilitation facilities.
Anju Prison Farm in Matabeleland North Province, for instance, is core to ZPCS drive to empower inmates with life skills, which they can use upon release from prison.
The farm is one of the 23 ZPCS farms producing food for inmates at different prisons across the country.
Produce from the farm is used for feeding inmates at prisons in the Matabeleland region while the surplus is sold to generate income to fund some of the day-to-day operations of the prisons.
“As ZPCS, you are part of the security services and a vital cog in the national development agenda. You must, therefore, be on high alert and acquit yourselves well in executing your constitutional mandate,” said President Mnangagwa.
“Let us all live up to the national development philosophy of ‘Nyika inovakwa, inotongwa, igonamatirwa nevene vayo/ Ilizwe lakhiwa, libuswe, likhulekelwe ngabanikazi balo’.”
Also, the President called on newly graduated officers to maintain constitutionalism, professionalism, and discipline in their service to the nation, warning them against any form of misconduct that could tarnish the reputation of the ZPCS, Government, or the country.
President Mnangagwa noted the growing challenge of drug and substance abuse, particularly among youths, which has also affected the security sector. He stressed the need for decisive action to address this scourge as Zimbabwe works towards becoming an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.
“To the graduates, I emphasise that being a member of the security services requires unwavering loyalty, discipline, and a strong commitment to serving the nation. I further, urge you to work wholeheartedly and diligently, whilst upholding constitutionalism and professionalism. Your integrity must remain untarnished by selfish interests,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said drugs and substance abuse threaten national security in various ways and hinder economic development, adding that anyone caught engaging in such unethical behaviour will face the full wrath of the law.
“Anyone caught engaging in such unethical behaviour will face the full wrath of the law. Any form of indiscipline that could taint the reputation of the Service, Government and nation at large will not be tolerated,” he said.
“As new ambassadors of the ZPCS, I challenge you to adhere to high ethical standards and uprightness in your duties.”
The President commended the ZPCS for its proactive measures in combating drug abuse, including awareness campaigns involving officers, inmates, and communities.
“I call upon recruits to reject such illicit activities and take bold steps towards building a brighter Zimbabwe,” he said.
In June, President Mnangagwa launched the Zimbabwe Multi-Sectoral Drug and Substance Abuse Plan (2024-2030), a comprehensive strategy to tackle the issue. The plan includes seven pillars, focusing on supply and demand reduction, harm reduction, treatment and rehabilitation, psychosocial support, and community reintegration.
The graduating cohort included 1 107 males and 512 females from courses 154 and 155. Among them were recruits from the San community in Tsholotsho District, marking continued progress in integrating marginalised groups into national security services.
This follows the historic graduation of 20 San youths in June 2022, the first from their community to join the ZPCS. Before the Second Republic’s interventions, the San people faced significant challenges, including a lack of identity documents, limited access to education, and exclusion from formal employment opportunities.
President Mnangagwa urged the graduates to remain committed to lifelong learning and adapt to evolving trends in correctional management.
“To the graduates, as you step into the service of our great motherland, Zimbabwe, carry with you the lessons and memories from your training. Do not just dream of the future, but become the architects of the future you want,” he said.
“Approach your work with the courage and optimism to make a positive impact wherever you will be deployed. Remember, learning is a lifelong journey, and your thirst for knowledge must never stop.
“Stay abreast of evolving trends in correctional management and continually sharpen your knowledge and skills.”
Yesterday’s pass-out parade was attended by several senior Government officials, service chiefs, and the relatives of the recruits.
leeroy mupariri
