Thubelihle Mabhena Chronicle Reporter
BULAWAYO Central Police Station, the second largest in the country, has opened six new holding cells to ease overcrowding in a move meant to enhance suspects’ human rights.Each of the cells, built by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), has a toilet and a separate bathroom with a geyser, the first such facility in the country at a police station.

The kitchen where food for suspects is prepared was rehabilitated while lockers were installed in the property room.

Visitors’ toilets were installed with a new flushing system while a concrete floor was constructed for the detention room.

The ICRC yesterday also donated blankets, plates, mops, brooms, dustbins, gumboots, gloves, working overalls and cleaning detergents to the police station.

Speaking during the hand-over ceremony, ICRC head of office, Alejandra Blundell, said they started working with the ZRP in December 2012.

“Since then we’ve visited six police stations in Zimbabwe. We’re also working with the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services to visit prisons to assess humanitarian needs among the inmates,” said Blundell.

“We assist the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) in rehabilitating critical infrastructure among the inmates’ needs by enhancing food security in improving productivity in prison farms and gardens and support in monitoring the health care of inmates.”

The officer commanding Bulawayo Central District, Chief Superintendent Fungai Dengu, said on any given day, they handled between 10 to 15 suspects and the figure rises to 30 during weekends.

“In a month we may have an average of 600 inmates. As far as human rights are concerned everyone has the right to bath, eat and good sanitation.

“We thank the International Committee of the Red Cross for their support and the donation they have made to better our facilities,” he said.

The officer-in-charge of crime, Bulawayo Central, Inspector Farai Vutahwashe, said: “We’re grateful for the noble donation which will go a long way in alleviating our services”.

 

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