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Zimbabwe: Prison riots – a case for reform
(March 22, 2015)Zimbabwe: Prison riots – a case for reform
source: New Zimbabwe
published: 19 March 2015
Beneath the riots that claimed the lives of three inmates and resulted in the injury of many of their colleagues and prison officers, are some root causes that have been incubating for a long time. What played out on Friday are just symptoms, which we must not expend time and energy on.
According to media reports, the prison inmates had complained about the poor diet for some weeks. Promises to improve the diet were never fulfilled until the inmates decided to protest riotously. Criminals as they are, the prison officials should have realised that they have the propensity to commit a crime at any slightest opportunity.
A hungry man is an angry man. It is unfortunate that the prison authorities ignored this basic principle. According to impeccable sources, the violent protest followed several other peaceful protests over the poor food.