TZ urges SADC unity in reforming, reintegrating ex-prisoners
DODOMA: TANZANIA has underlined the importance of strengthening collaboration among Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) member states on rehabilitation and socio-economic integration of prisoners in efforts of fostering sustainable peace in the region.
Speaking while opening the SADC Annual Regional Conference of Heads of Correction/Prisons/ Penitentiary Services yesterday in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s Deputy Minister for Home Affairs, Mr Daniel Sillo said collective rehabilitations and integrations is key in ensuring prisoners attain permanent positive change of behaviour for a peaceful life featured by high sense of accountability and self-esteem after their prison terms.
“Successful rehabilitation and integration mean breaking the prisoners’ circle of offending,” he said.
He said rehabilitation can be undertaken through among others special vocational training to prisoners relating to life skills thereby enabling them participate effectively in economic activities after imprisonment.
Mr Sillo also called on for counselling to help prisoners get rid of mental health problems and subsistence abuse as well as addressing stigma but instead after their terms in prisons co-exist with innocent citizens in their respective countries without offending again.
ALSO READ: African state remembers first genocide of 20th century
Furthermore, he encouraged heads of prisons service in the region to utilise the conference in exploring innovative approaches for further exchange of information among them about prisoners in bid of upgrading efficiency of their institutions which play a pivotal role in administrating criminal justice systems.
The theme of the conference which started on Wednesday was “Intelligence Gathering for Early Warning: The Role of Corrections/ Prisons in the SADC Peace and Security Architecture. The conference is set to conclude today.
Moreover, Mr Sillo insisted collaborative efforts among SADC member states in continuing to boost adherence to the regional bloc’s protocols including exchange of prisoners, cooperation in undertaking various rehabilitation programmes and capacity building.
Earlier, welcoming participants, Tanzania Prisons Service’s Commissioner General, Jeremiah Katungu who doubles as the incoming chairperson of SADC’s prisons service said the country’s prison is ready for the key recommendations as reforms from the conference.
He said the conference brought together about 15 heads of prisons service in the region to chart a new course for improving effectiveness of their institutions.
In that regard, he called for SADC’s heads of prisons to identify solutions to problems while exchange best practice to upgrade their performance and revitalise their commitment to promoting peace in the region.
Meanwhile , SADC’s Director of the Organ of Politics, Defence and Security Affairs, Professor Kula Thelestsane underlined the need for a holistic approach through continued cooperation to advance rehabilitation of prisoners by undertaking evidence-based decisions in the region.
