BY TANDZILE DLAMINI
MBABANE – About ten Officers in Charge and their deputies from Eswatini are currently participating in a SADC Prisons/Correctional/Penitentiary Services Peer to Peer Interaction Workshop at the Management Training Bureau in Harare, Zimbabwe.
The programme brings together participants from Angola, Eswatini, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, creating a platform for sharing experiences, strategies, and best practices in prison management and inmate rehabilitation.
The workshop is held under the theme, “Strengthening Regional Cooperation: Prisons, Correctional Services Sharing Rehabilitation and Reintegration Best Practices.” It is designed to promote collaboration across the SADC region and enhance approaches that support successful inmate reintegration into society.
During the sessions, participants discuss a variety of topics including rehabilitation programmes, vocational training for inmates, community reintegration strategies, and methods to reduce recidivism. By exchanging practical experiences, the officers hope to identify solutions that can be applied in their own countries to improve correctional outcomes.
Experts attending the workshop emphasised that strong regional cooperation is vital for effective correctional services, noting that sharing knowledge and lessons learned helps countries implement more efficient and humane rehabilitation systems.
The peer to peer interactions also allow participants to network with colleagues across borders, strengthening relationships that can support future joint initiatives and regional projects aimed at improving prison management standards.
This initiative reflects a growing commitment across SADC to prioritise rehabilitation, human rights, and sustainable reintegration strategies, demonstrating the region’s dedication to transforming correctional systems into instruments for positive social change.
By the end of the workshop, delegates are expected to develop actionable recommendations that will inform policy and operational improvements in their respective correctional services.
(Courtesy Pics)
