BY TANDZILE DLAMINI
MBABANE – Eswatini is participating in a high-level consultative workshop in Nairobi, Kenya, from 15 to 17 September 2025, where Chiefs and Commissioner Generals of Correctional Services from more than 30 African countries are discussing ways to improve prison conditions, rehabilitation programs, and human rights in detention facilities.
The three-day forum, hosted by the Government of Kenya in partnership with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), brings together Chiefs and Commissioner Generals of Correctional Services from more than 30 African countries to address urgent challenges in prisons, including overcrowding, weak rehabilitation structures, and the protection of human rights within detention facilities.
Commissioner General LaMakhosini Phindile Dlamini , accompanied by Superintendent Wakhe Masilela, participates in discussions aimed at shaping policies that ensure prisons are not merely places of punishment but centers of transformation and learning. Her presence reflects Eswatini’s commitment to aligning national correctional policies with international standards that uphold human dignity, reduce recidivism, and strengthen rehabilitation programs.
Organizers of the workshop emphasized the need for African nations to collaborate on progressive correctional strategies, share best practices, and mobilize resources to improve detention conditions across the continent. Delegates are also exploring innovative approaches to enhance the effectiveness and humanity of correctional services, ensuring inmates are treated with dignity while being prepared to reintegrate into society.
For Eswatini, participating in this forum is a significant step toward improving the country’s correctional system. By learning from regional experiences and implementing actionable recommendations, the country aims to foster a culture of rehabilitation and human rights within its prisons, contributing to safer communities and more humane treatment of inmates.
The workshop is expected to conclude with a set of recommendations and collaborative frameworks that African nations, including Eswatini, can adopt to strengthen their correctional systems and promote justice continent-wide.
(Courtesy Pics)
