Zimbabwe

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CountryZimbabwe
Ministry responsible
Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs
Prison administration
Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services
Contact address
Private Bag 7718, Causeway, Harare, Zimbabwe
Telephone
+263 4 706501/4 or 777384/5 or 710095/7 or 754197
Fax
+263 4 754157
Website
http://www.zpcs.gov.zw/
Email
zpcspr@zpcs.gov.zw
Head of prison administration (and title)
Moses Chihobvu
Commissioner
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
24 068
at 31.3.2024 (ZimStats)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
153
based on an estimated national population of 15.78 million at end of March 2024 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
22.2%
(31.3.2024)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
2.8%
(31.3.2024)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.6%
(April 2019 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
2.5%
(30.9.2023)
Number of establishments / institutions
72
(2019 - 46 main prisons, 26 satellite prisons)
Official capacity of prison system
17 000
(August 2022)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
130.1%
(August 2022)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 20,567 164
2002 c 21,000 c 165
2004 19,608 152
2006 18,081 137
2008 14,029 103
2010 13,361 96
2012 c 16,900 c 128
2014 17,484 129
2017 19,521 137
2019 19,382 133
2021 20,407 136
2000 20,567 164
2002 c 21,000 c 165
2004 19,608 152
2006 18,081 137
2008 14,029 103
2010 13,361 96
2012 c 16,900 c 128
2014 17,484 129
2017 19,521 137
2019 19,382 133
2021 20,407 136

Pages

Pre-trial/remand prison population: trend

The table below gives an indication of the recent trend in the pre-trial/remand prison population. The final row shows the latest figures available.

It consists of the number of pre-trial/remand prisoners in the prison population on a single date in the year (or the annual average) and the percentage of the total prison population that pre-trial/remand prisoners constituted on that day.  

The final column shows the pre-trial/remand population rate per 100,000 of the national population. 

                                                 ZIMBABWE

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

Pre-trial/remand
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

2000
2005
2010
2015
2019

5,747
5,357
3,689
3,224
3,606

27.9%
29.7%
27.6%
17.1%
18.6%

46
43
29
21
21

2024

5,332

22.2%

34

It should be noted that the number of pre-trial/remand prisoners fluctuates from day to day, month to month and year to year. Consequently the above figures give an indication of the trend but the picture is inevitably incomplete.

The pre-trial/remand population rate is calculated on the basis of the national population total. All national population figures are inevitably estimates but the estimates used in the World Prison Brief are based on official national figures, United Nations figures or figures from other recognised international authorities.

Female prison population: trend

The table below gives an indication of the trend in the female prison population. The final row shows the latest figures available.

It consists of the number of female prisoners in the prison population on a single date in the year (or the annual average) and the percentage of the total prison population that female prisoners constituted on that day. 

The final column shows the female prison population rate per 100,000 of the national population.

                                                 ZIMBABWE

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

Female prison
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

2001
2005
2010
2015
2019

671
602
c. 450
391
458

3.5%
3.3%
3.0%
2.1%
2.4%

5.3
4.8
3.2
2.5
2.7

2024

667

2.8%

4.2

The number of female prisoners fluctuates and so the above figures give an indication of the trend but the picture is inevitably incomplete.

The female prison population rate is calculated on the basis of the national population total. All national population figures are inevitably estimates but the estimates used in the World Prison Brief are based on official national figures, United Nations figures or figures from other recognised international authorities.

(If the rate were calculated on the basis of the number of females in the national population it would of course be approximately double the figure in the final column).

Prison population total
Prison population rate