Govt urged to craft condom distribution strategy for prisoners
Government has been challenged to conduct a survey on condom distribution in prisons in order to come up with strategies to curb new HIV infections in correctional facilities.
Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services deputy Commissioner-General Alfred Dube told a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)-organised workshop on HIV prevention in correctional settings held in Kariba this week that the National Aids Council (Nac) has committed to fund such a survey.
“This is important in that the study will help in giving recommendations and, where possible, intervention to problems in our settings in keeping with evidence based intervention at best practice,” he said.
Dube said MPs should interrogate the issue of same sex relationships bearing in mind the legal framework under which Zimbabwe is operating.
“In our case as Zimbabwe, you may want to agree with me that legislatively, the issue of men having sex with men or women is a criminal offence. At the same time, there is separation of prisons according to gender which automatically entails that providing condoms to inmates during incarceration is tantamount to promotion of homosexuality,” Dube said.
But Prince Dube, the acting chair of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health said he government should re-consider its position to deal with HIV and Aids in prisons
“We can continue to hide our heads in the sand when in reality men are sleeping with fellow men in prison. Furthermore we are concerned that little is being done to get to the bottom of this sad reality. Prisoners’ liberty is not limited to sexual behaviour, hence, our call for access to condom distribution in prisons,” Sibanda said.
Chair of the thematic committee on HIV and Aids, Lilian Timveos said same sex incidences were prevalent in prisons and the spread of HIV was possible.
“Prisons are a key population area that must be catered for as a matter of urgency,” she said.
A member of Justice portfolio committee and MDC chief whip, Innocent Gonese said denial was negatively impacting on inmates rights.
“Why are we denying inmates basic human rights in accessing better health facilities if they are infected? We call upon other MPs to work closely and come up with a better legal framework for the benefit of our inmates. Everyone is a potential candidate to be in prison so let us not condemn prisoners,” Gonese said.
UNODC regional officer Nthabeleng Moshoeshoe said there was no need to delay implementation of HIV and Aids prevention strategies in prisons.
Zimbabwe has 19 500 inmates in 46 prisons.
Nhau Mangirazi/Xolisani Ncube
