The Zimbabwe Prisons Correctional Services (ZPCS) has received an assortment of personal protective equipment worth US$120 000 from the International Committee of the Red Cross and a local company, Sunrick Investment.
The donation was made to protect prisoners and staff from COVID-19 outbreak. With the large numbers of people normally found in prisons, the donors saw it fit to lend a helping hand at such a crucial time bearing in mind that the place is at high risk of spreading the virus.
The gesture made by the donors included disposable shoe covers, water proof space suits, rain suits, gum boots, latex and rubber gloves, surgical masks, disposable plastic aprons, theatre caps, sanitisers, refuse bags, bin liners, toilet dip, sodium hypochlorite, chloride of lime, scrubs, squizzers, hard brooms and mutton cloth.
The donation was received by the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs permanent secretary Mrs Virginia Mabiza from ICRC Head of Mission Cherine Pollini at Harare Central Prison. After receiving the donation, Mrs Mabuza thanked the donors noting that the donation was timely.
“It is against this background that both Government and the ZPCS remain appreciative of such level of benevolence, especially when being targeted to the disadvantaged groups within our settings that include the inmates,” said Mrs Mabuza.
She continued by thanking the ICRC that had previously donated consignments of medical iterms to fight COVID-19. She also hailed companies like Sunrick Investment for chipping in to make a difference in the lives of the prisoners.
The ZPCS is already undertaking risk assessment and management fumigation exercises and other measures to prevent an outbreak.
