By NOXOLO DLAMINI
ZAMBIA – Correctional institutions across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have been challenged to move beyond their traditional custodial role and become centres of rehabilitation, skills development, productivity and community resilience.
The call was made by Zambia’s Commissioner General, Fredrick S.S. Chilukutu, during the closing of the 2026 SADC Officers-in-Charge Peer-to-Peer Interaction Workshop in Lusaka, where correctional leaders from seven SADC Member States gathered to share experiences and explore practical ways of strengthening correctional systems across the region.
Commissioner General Chilukutu urged Officers-in-Charge to make greater use of correctional facilities by promoting agriculture, technology, vocational training, mental health programmes and economic empowerment as part of efforts to prepare inmates for successful reintegration into society.
He said rehabilitation should not end when an inmate leaves a correctional facility, but should equip offenders with practical skills, knowledge and confidence to rebuild their lives and make positive contributions to their communities.
Emphasising the importance of starting with available resources, Chilukutu said, “A journey of a hundred hectares starts with a lima,” encouraging correctional institutions to utilise even small opportunities to improve agricultural production, food security and institutional self-reliance.
The Commissioner General further highlighted agriculture and skills development as important tools for restoring dignity, developing human potential and preparing inmates for productive lives after incarceration.
The workshop also provided a platform for correctional leaders from across the region to exchange experiences, discuss common challenges and identify practical approaches that could improve correctional administration.
Heads of Delegation from Angola, Eswatini, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe expressed appreciation to Zambia for hosting the peer-to-peer engagement and creating an opportunity for regional learning and collaboration.
Held under the theme, “Transforming Correctional Systems for Sustainable Development: Promoting Agriculture, Rehabilitation, Economic Empowerment, and Community Resilience across the SADC Region,” the workshop brought together 110 delegates from seven SADC Member States.
The engagement highlighted the need for correctional institutions to contribute to sustainable development while fulfilling their mandate of securing and rehabilitating offenders.
The workshop concluded with a broader regional message that correctional facilities can serve not only as custodial institutions, but also as platforms for skills development, productivity, dignity and rehabilitation, ultimately supporting safer and more resilient communities across the SADC region.
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