High Court Orders Overhaul Of Inmate Conditions
MUTARE – Justice Sijabuliso Siziba of the High Court in Mutare has handed down a landmark ruling, demanding immediate improvements to detention facilities in Zimbabwe.
The ruling comes after Michael Mundandishe (50), a former inmate from Chikanga, took legal action, citing inhumane conditions that violated Sections 50(1)(c) and 50(5)(d) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
Mundandishe, represented by Passmore Nyakureba from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), revealed disturbing details about his time at Mutare Central Police Station and Mutare Remand Prison.
He reported malfunctioning toilets shared among inmates, no access to bathing basins, and the indignity of bathing in open spaces. Mundandishe’s arrest on August 1, 2024, for convening an unsanctioned gathering in Chikanga, led him to file the lawsuit.
Responding to these concerns, Justice Siziba condemned the conditions as “inhuman and degrading,” issuing directives for authorities to equip all cells with functional flush toilets, washing basins, and screened-off bathing facilities to preserve inmates’ dignity, Mirror reports.
This ruling stands as a significant call for reform within Zimbabwe’s correctional system.
The case echoes similar issues reported by The Mirror in 2022. In that instance, D-class inmates at Mutimurefu Prison in Masvingo disclosed that they were forced to bathe using toilet bowls due to the lack of buckets. Justice Garainesu Mawadze, overseeing the 2022 matter, ordered an investigation into these claims.
Justice Siziba’s judgment emphasizes the judiciary’s role in ensuring humane treatment for inmates, aligning detention practices with constitutional protections. It also highlights the critical role of legal advocates like ZLHR in defending citizens’ rights.
