By Flata Kavinga
Kwekwe Prison is operating beyond its holding capacity and faces challenges ranging from inadequate accommodation for officers to shortages of medical supplies.
Speaking during the handover of groceries and construction materials by Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Owen Ncube donated from proceeds of the 2026 Midlands Provincial Independence Ball Kwekwe Prison officer-in-charge, Superintendent Elliot Maburutse said the prison was currently housing 254 inmates against a holding capacity of 192.
Maburutse said the prison was currently housing 254 inmates against a holding capacity of 192.
“As at this morning, we had 254 inmates against a holding capacity of 192. This means the prison is overcrowded by 62
inmates,” he said.
Maburutse said Kwekwe Prison, established in 1910, is the oldest correctional facility in Midlands Province and is classified as a Grade Three prison.
He said the institution has a staff complement of 128 officers, comprising 74 men and 54 women and described staff morale as high.
“We have a disciplined staff and the staff morale is high as a result of the rations we are receiving,” he said.
Despite this, Maburutse said the prison was facing accommodation challenges, with many officers living in various suburbs outside the prison premises.
“We are facing challenges in staff accommodation, with most of our officers residing in different suburbs,” he said.
He said five accommodation blocks under construction were already being occupied before completion because of demand for housing space.
“We have five blocks under construction and we are already using them before completion as they require electrification. We are also housing officers from training,” he said.
Maburutse said inadequate space remained one of the institution’s major challenges and called for renovations to the existing facility.
“Our prison needs renovations. If possible, depending on the availability of land, it will be ideal to construct a new prison complex,” he said.
He also highlighted shortages of medical supplies for chronic illnesses at the prison clinic and difficulties in servicing available transport.
“We have adequate transport but we face challenges in having the vehicles serviced. We also have a shortage of medical supplies for chronic diseases at our clinic,” he said.
Maburutse said the prison continued to conduct awareness campaigns on drug and substance abuse targeting inmates, officers and their dependants.
On inmate welfare, he said the institution currently had adequate food stocks.
“Currently we have adequate food stocks for inmates. Our inmates have eggs for breakfast and chicken during meals, apples and bananas,” he said.
He also appealed for new uniforms for inmates, particularly orange prison uniforms.
Ncube handed over mealie-meal, rice, sugar, cooking oil, soap, beans, brooms and cement to the prison.
