The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) has launched a landmark programme to digitise inmate records across all 48 prisons in the country, a move hailed as a major stride towards modernising correctional services and laying the foundation for the possible introduction of a parole system.
The Electronic Inmate Data Capturing Programme (EIDCaP), rolled out this week, replaces decades of paper-based record-keeping, streamlining inmate management and bringing Zimbabwe in line with international correctional trends.
Speaking at the official launch at Mutare Farm Prison, ZPCS Assistant Commissioner Alois Sibanda described the project as a transformative development for prison administration.
“This programme will reduce paperwork and ensure easy access to accurate inmate information,” Sibanda said. “The data we are capturing will be crucial for management when making decisions on programmes such as parole, which we are likely to adopt in the near future. It aligns with global trends where the focus is shifting from punishment alone to rehabilitation and reintegration into society.”
The electronic system will allow ZPCS to build a centralised database of inmate information, accessible to management for evidence-based decision-making. Authorities believe this will improve efficiency, enhance accountability, and ultimately ensure fairer treatment of inmates.
ZPCS Rolls Out Digital Inmate System, Paving Way for Possible Parole in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe currently has no formal parole system. Inmates serve their full sentences, except when granted early release through presidential amnesties or sentence remissions.
If introduced, parole would allow carefully vetted inmates to serve part of their sentence outside prison under supervised release, based on factors such as behaviour, progress in rehabilitation programmes, and risk assessments.
Correctional experts argue that parole could ease overcrowding in prisons, which house around 25,000 inmates nationwide, while also motivating inmates to stay disciplined and focused on rehabilitation.
In Manicaland Province alone, there are 2,242 inmates across five main prisons and several satellite institutions. Facilities frequently struggle with overcrowding, stretching resources and limiting opportunities for meaningful rehabilitation.
“Parole is not a free pass,” Sibanda emphasised. “It would be a structured system that allows deserving inmates to reintegrate while being monitored, ensuring they remain accountable to the justice system.”
The digitisation project is part of a broader vision to establish “smart prisons”, where technology underpins security, administration, and rehabilitation.
Some innovations already under consideration include:
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Virtual court hearings to reduce the costs and risks associated with transporting inmates.
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Digital tracking tools to monitor rehabilitation progress in real time.
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Centralised data systems to provide accurate, up-to-date information for policymakers and correctional staff.
Sibanda stressed that digitisation would also strengthen rehabilitation efforts. “This programme is about knowing our inmates better, tracking their progress, and making evidence-based decisions. It is a shift from a punitive to a rehabilitative approach,” he said.
ZPCS has been gradually expanding rehabilitation programmes in recent years. Inmates are engaged in agriculture, vocational training, counselling, and formal education, with the aim of equipping them with skills to reintegrate successfully into society.
At Mutare Farm Prison, many inmates expressed hope that digitisation and parole could open new doors for them.
One inmate, Editor Chihwayi, serving a nine-year sentence for stock theft, said parole would give him a chance to rebuild his life and reconnect with his family.
“I want to go back to my children while they are still young. With supervised release, I can still be a better father to them,” Chihwayi said.
Another prisoner, Prosper Mangwiro, added that the possibility of parole encouraged inmates to remain disciplined. “If we know our behaviour is being monitored and recorded, it motivates us to do better. It gives us something to look forward to.”
If adopted, Zimbabwe’s parole system would bring the country in line with regional peers such as South Africa, Kenya, and Zambia, which already use parole to balance justice with rehabilitation.
In South Africa, parole is granted based on risk assessments and rehabilitation progress, allowing inmates to transition gradually back into society under strict supervision. Kenya has combined parole with community service programmes, while Zambia has used it as part of wider prison reform initiatives.
Zimbabwean legal and correctional experts say adopting similar models could both reduce overcrowding and improve the chances of inmates becoming productive citizens after release.
For now, EIDCaP represents a foundational shift. By creating a centralised, digital database of inmate records, ZPCS is building the systems necessary to manage complex reforms like parole in the future.
While no official timeline has been set for the introduction of parole, the groundwork is being laid. Stakeholders believe that with political will, legislative backing, and continued investment in digitisation, Zimbabwe could soon join the ranks of countries using parole to strike a balance between justice, security, and rehabilitation.
As Sibanda concluded, “This is about creating a correctional system that not only punishes crime but also transforms lives. Technology is the key to achieving that goal.”
Source- Bulawayo24
