VP Chiwenga Opens Inaugural African Parole Conference, Calls for Restorative Justice

ZIMBABWE Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga officially opened the first‑ever African Parole System Conference on Monday, urging African nations to adopt modern, evidence‑based parole systems that put rehabilitation at the centre of correctional policy.

The four‑day event, held at the Harare International Conference Centre, is being hailed as a milestone for the continent’s correctional reform agenda.

Speaking to a hall packed with senior officials, Dr Chiwenga said, “It is with profound honour and privilege to address this historic inaugural African Parole System Conference: an event that speaks directly to the evolution of modern correctional policy and the future of restorative justice on our continent.”

He added that the conference brings together “esteemed Heads of Correctional Services from across the Continent; alongside senior Correctional Officers; renowned policy makers; legal and rehabilitation experts to shape a transformative agenda for correctional reform across Africa and beyond.”

The conference is running under the theme “Advancing Restorative Justice: Strengthening Parole System for Safer and Rehabilitated Societies – An African Perspective with Global Collaboration.”

The theme, according to VP Chiwenga reflects the Second Republic’s national transformation agenda, which places human dignity, rehabilitation and reintegration at the core of a modern correctional system.

Dr Chiwenga highlighted recent legislative changes in Zimbabwe, including the Prisons and Correctional Service Act [Chapter 7:23], which creates a State Parole Board and expands parole eligibility beyond inmates with terminal illnesses.

“The new framework establishes a structured, transparent, and progressive parole system, administered by a State Parole Board, that prioritises evidence‑based rehabilitation; supervised reintegration; reduction of reoffending; and enhanced public safety,” he said.

He also announced the upcoming launch of the Pathways to Reintegration Foundation in 2026. The foundation will coordinate post‑release support, offering mentorship, skills development, psychosocial assistance and community partnerships.

“This is a flagship initiative in our ‘leaving no one and no place behind’ agenda, a strategic investment in people, rehabilitation and national stability,” the Vice President explained.

The opening ceremony was attended by a host of dignitaries, including Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Ziyambi Ziyambi; Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Jenfan Muswere; Permanent Secretary for Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Vimbai Nyemba; Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service Commissioner‑General Moses Chihobvu; Service Chiefs as well as representatives from Namibia, Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Tanzania, South Africa and Zambia.

In his address, Dr Chiwenga stressed the importance of continental and global collaboration.

“Zimbabwe acknowledges that it cannot and indeed should not endeavour to walk this transformative path in isolation. I therefore urge you all – correctional services institutions across the African continent – to make full and strategic use of established platforms such as the African Correctional Services Association and the International Corrections and Prisons Association,” he said.

He concluded by urging delegates to engage with “intellectual honesty and operational clarity” and to shape parole regulations that are “practical, implementable, and responsive to our unique national realities.”

The Vice President’s remarks were met with applause and set the tone for a conference expected to produce a draft framework for a continent‑wide parole system.

Over the next four days, panel discussions will focus on decongesting prisons, improving inmate living conditions, and integrating digital technologies into correctional facilities. Delegates are also expected to explore ways to replicate Zimbabwe’s new parole model across the region.

The inaugural African Parole System Conference is being seen as a catalyst for a new era of restorative justice in Africa, one that seeks to turn prisons into places of transformation rather than mere confinement. As the event unfolds, stakeholders hope the outcomes will translate into safer communities, stronger families and a more stable economic future for the continent.