Zimbabwe launches new prison uniforms to erase ‘colonial injustices’

The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) has phased out the white prison uniforms for male convicts and green dresses for female inmates.

They are being replaced with orange for males and pink for females.

Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said the old uniforms had always been a burden, having been introduced during the colonial era.

Speaking at an event to launch the new uniform on Tuesday, the minister said the colourful uniforms will help the nation heal from colonial injustices.

“These changes are meant to dispense colonial historical injustices out of our minds. Our traditional uniform was worn by sons and daughters who were tormented by the vile of colonial cruelty,” he said.

“The new uniforms will also assist in the hygienic requirements of prison inmates in that they are not as bright and cannot easily get visibly dirty,” added the minister.

Male inmates will now wear orange uniforms. In winter they will be allowed to wear long sleeved round neck tops and trousers.

Females are shifting from the green to pink dresses.

The uniforms were launched at an event in which the justice minister also handed over service vehicles to be distributed across the country.

The ZPCS received 13 five-tonne lorries, 25 Ford Ranger single cab trucks, seven NP300 pick-up trucks, 14 Toyota GD6 4X4 pickup trucks and two 64-seater buses. The fleet was procured through the office of the president and cabinet.

The ZPCS has been grappling with a transport crisis. The vehicle shortage has seen inmates failing to attend court at times but Ziyambi vowed this will not happen again.