Zimbabwe Hosts Landmark Parole Conference as VP Chiwenga Calls for a Modern, Humane Correctional System

Harare – The official opening of the Parole Conference, graced by Vice President Rtd General Dr Constantino Dominic Guvheya Nyikadzino Chiwenga, unfolded like a moment the country had long been preparing for.

It was more than speeches and handshakes; it was a national reflection on justice, humanity and the kind of society Zimbabwe is working toward.

The conference, running under the weighty but deeply meaningful theme Advancing Restorative Justice Strengthening Parole System for Safer and Rehabilitated Societies – An African Perspective with Global Collaboration, set the tone for a conversation that has been overdue across the continent.

It was a deliberate call to rethink how nations handle offenders, how they rebuild lives, and how communities can emerge safer, stronger and more united in the process.

Standing before delegates drawn from across Africa and beyond, VP Chiwenga delivered a speech that cut straight to the heart of Zimbabwe’s reform journey. His message was firm but compassionate. He stressed that the country is stepping boldly into a new chapter where correctional systems must reflect the dignity of the people they serve, not the shadows of a darker past.

In his address, the Vice President anchored his message on the vision of the Second Republic, which has made national transformation a non-negotiable priority. “A modern state cannot pride itself on development while ignoring the humanity of its correctional institutions,” he said.

With that, he underscored a philosophy that has been gaining momentum in Zimbabwe’s justice landscape: rehabilitation is not a side issue. It is central. Reintegration is not a favour. It is a right. And human dignity is not conditional. It is foundational.

The conference’s theme speaks to that shift. It underlines an African desire to rebuild justice systems that do not merely punish but heal. Systems that do not throw people away but guide them back home. And perhaps most importantly, systems that recognise crime as a social wound requiring a social cure.

VP Chiwenga reminded delegates that restorative justice isn’t a fashionable global phrase; it is an African principle woven into indigenous cultures long before colonial structures changed traditional ways of resolving conflict.

What stood out in the Vice President’s remarks was his insistence on aligning Zimbabwe’s parole system with data driven approaches and global best practices.

It was an acknowledgment that while Africa has its own wisdom to offer the world, it must also engage openly, adopt what works, and shed what no longer serves its people.

He noted that parole, when properly structured and supported, becomes a bridge of hope that connects correctional institutions with society. It is a channel that transforms offenders from a life defined by a single mistake to one defined by renewed purpose.

“Every rehabilitated citizen returned to their community is a step toward a safer Zimbabwe,” he said, in what became one of the speech’s defining lines.

It was clear that the government is not treating parole as a bureaucratic procedure but as a powerful tool for community safety.

Reintegration, VP Chiwenga argued, is not about opening prison doors recklessly but about building a process that ensures returning citizens are emotionally grounded, socially prepared and economically empowered.

If Zimbabwe truly wants to build safer communities, then the correctional system must function as part of the national development agenda, not as an isolated corner of the state.

Delegates nodded as he spoke of the Second Republic’s broader transformation agenda, which views correctional reforms as part of building a modern nation.

A humane parole system, he explained, is not simply a legal reform. It is a development policy. It is a social healing strategy. And it is a peacebuilding instrument.

Across the room, there was a sense that Zimbabwe is positioning itself as a continental voice in pushing for justice systems that are smart, fair and forward leaning. The African perspective highlighted in the conference theme is not just a regional branding exercise. It is a reminder that African countries face similar social challenges and can learn from one another’s innovations.

The call for global collaboration, on the other hand, signals openness to international partnerships that enhance training, technology adoption, research, and evidence based reforms.

What resonated most deeply is that the parole discourse is no longer being framed as merely a legal matter but as a human story. Behind every statistic is a person whose life trajectory can change with the right intervention.

Behind every policy is a community longing for safety, healing and unity. And behind every reform effort is a nation deciding what kind of future it wants to build.

VP Chiwenga reminded participants that a truly modern correctional architecture must capture the full arc of the human experience. It must recognise the offender’s past, the victim’s pain, the community’s needs and the nation’s collective aspirations. It must balance accountability and mercy, discipline and rehabilitation, safety and compassion. And above all, it must protect human dignity.

Zimbabwe, he said, is ready to lead with empathy and intelligence. The country’s correctional services, policymakers and justice stakeholders are laying the foundation for a parole system that stands tall among global standards. This is not a cosmetic reform but a deep structural aspiration aimed at creating safer neighbourhoods and reducing repeat offending.

As the conference continues, delegates are expected to exchange insights on data driven parole models, community based rehabilitation, psychological support, and successful reintegration frameworks used across the world. There is hope that when the curtains fall, the conversations sparked at the Rainbow Towers will ripple far beyond the venue.

If yesterday was anything to go by, Zimbabwe is not merely attending a parole conference. It is stepping into its role as a leader in justice transformation on the continent.

The Second Republic under President Mnangagwa has pinned its colours to the mast, committing to build a correctional system that heals, empowers and protects.

Walking out of the conference hall, one could feel a sense of cautious optimism. The kind that comes when a nation looks at a difficult problem not with fear, but with determination.

As VP Chiwenga’s words echoed in the minds of those present, one thing was certain: this conversation has shifted, and Zimbabwe is not looking back.

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