THE Zimbabwe Prison Service (ZPS) has appealed to the government to employ skilled and educated ex-convicts after correctional service during incarceration.
BY NUNURAI JENA
The appeal was made by ZPS legal expert Patricia Mavhembu at United Nations Human Rights Mechanism for the implementation of Zimbabwe’s Universal Periodic Review National Plan of Action in Nyanga last week.
She said the government, as the biggest employer, should start by removing “discriminatory employment clause” that stipulates that those with previous criminal records cannot be employed in the civil service”.
“I will end by appealing to you all here, government included, to consider employing ex-convicts who would have been skilled and educated while in our prisons,” said Mavhembu.
“We are 100% sure that our correctional service is effective.” Justice ministry permanent-secretary David Mangota said his ministry had already engaged Public Service Commission (PSC) over the issue.
He said it was a matter of time before the government relaxed employment requirements to accommodate ex-convicts.
“It is an issue that was of great concern to us as a ministry and we approached the PSC, which in turn called for a meeting of all permanent secretaries. I can assure you that something positive is in the pipeline,” said Mangota.
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The government does not employ anyone with previous convictions.
