Assessing The Prisoner’s Right To Human Dignity, Interrogating The Situation In Zimbabwe.

Table of Contents

DECLARATION .......................................................................................................................................... i

APPROVAL FORM ................................................................................................................................... ii

DEDICATION ............................................................................................................................................. iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ....................................................................................................................... iv

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ..................................................................................................................... v

CHAPTER 1 ................................................................................................................................................ 1

1.1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 1

1.2 BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................................. 1

1.3 PROBLEM STATEMENT ....................................................................................................... 3

1.4 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES ...................................................................................................... 3

1.5 LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................................................ 4

1.6 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................. 6

1.7 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY ............................................................................................. 6

1.8 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY ............................................................................................ 7

1.9CHAPTER SYNOPSIS .................................................................................................................... 7

CHAPTER 2 ............................................................................................................................................ 9

2.1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 9

2.2 WHAT IS A HUMAN RIGHT? .................................................................................................. 9

2.3 CHARACTERISTICS OF A HUMAN RIGHT ........................................................................ 9

2.4 THEORETICAL CONCEPTUALIZATION OF DIGNITY ......................................................... 10

2.6 THE IMPORTANCE OF HUMAN DIGNITY ......................................................................... 11

2.7 THE LEGAL CONCEPT OF HUMAN DIGNITY ................................................................. 11

2.9 THE AFRICAN CONCEPT OF HUMAN DIGNITY ............................................................. 12

2.10 THE CONSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE RIGHT TO HUMAN DIGNITY IN ZIMBABWE........................................................................................................................................... 12

2.11 CONCLUSION. ......................................................................................................................... 13

CHAPTER 3 .......................................................................................................................................... 14

3.1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................... 14

3.2 LEGAL FRAMEWORK ADDRESSING THE RIGHT TO HUMAN DIGNITY IN ZIMBABWE. ......................................................................................................................................... 14

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3.3 THE ZIMBABWEAN SITUATION .............................................................................................. 16

3.3.1 OVERCROWDING IN PRISON CELLS ................................................................................. 16

3.3.2 DIET AS A CORNERSTONE OF HUMAN DIGNITY ..................................................... 18

3.3.3 ADEQUATE CLOTHING .................................................................................................... 19

3.3.4 SANITATION ........................................................................................................................ 20

3.3.5 ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE SERVICES ...................................................................... 22

3.4 CONCLUSION .......................................................................................................................... 23

CHAPTER 4 .......................................................................................................................................... 24

4.0 INTERNATIONAL LEGAL FRAMEWORK STANDARDS FOR PERSONS IN DETENTION ......................................................................................................................................... 24

4.1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 24

4.2 THE UNITED NATIONS STANDARD MINIMUM RULES FOR THE TREATMENT OF PRISONERS ......................................................................................................................................... 24

4.3 CUSTODY OF PRISONERS UNDER CONDITIONS OF HUMAN DIGNITY ................ 24

4.4 THE BASIC RIGHTS THAT FOSTER RESPECT FOR HUMAN DIGNITY IN THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES ACT (111 OF 1998) ....................................................................... 25

4.5 CLOTHING AND BEDDING .................................................................................................. 25

4.6 HEALTH AND SECURITY ..................................................................................................... 26

4.7 ACCOMMODATION ................................................................................................................ 26

4.8 NUTRITION AND MEALS ...................................................................................................... 27

4.9 HEALTH CARE ........................................................................................................................ 27

4.11 CONCLUSION .......................................................................................................................... 28

CHAPTER 5 .......................................................................................................................................... 29

5.1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 29

5.2 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS ..................................................................................................... 29

5.3 SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS ....................................................................................... 30

5.4 DIVERSION SYSTEM ............................................................................................................. 30

5.5 OPEN PRISON SYSTEM ....................................................................................................... 30

5.6 LEGISLATION REFORM ....................................................................................................... 30

5.7 GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS ...................................................................................... 31

5.8 NON- CUSTODIAL SENTENCE ........................................................................................... 31

5.9 HAVING A MAXIMIMUM PERIOD OF TIME A PRISONER CAN BE PLACED ON REMAND ............................................................................................................................................... 31

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BIBLIOGRAPHY ...............................................................................................................................