Niël Terblanché
Raphael Tuhafeni, the Commissioner General of the Namibian Correctional Service, officially inaugurated the Peer Interaction Training Workshop for Officers in Charge of Correctional-Prisons-Penitentiary Settings.
Tuhafeni said the gathering in Walvis Bay was designed to enhance the professionalism and effectiveness of correctional systems in member countries and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
He acknowledged the pivotal role played by Officers in Charge in maintaining safety, security, and inmate rehabilitation within correctional facilities. He commended their dedication to upholding justice, rehabilitation, and public safety.
The workshop is aimed to further bolster their skills and knowledge and enable them to excel in their leadership roles within the correctional system.
This unique Peer Interaction Training Workshop brought together Officers in Charge from Namibia, Angola, the Kingdom of Eswatini, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, marking the first of its kind on the continent.
Officers from different countries convened to discuss shared challenges, exchange best practices, and collaboratively find solutions to emerging issues facing correctional facilities.
The benchmarking process allowed for the comparison of practices and outcomes across different correctional systems, driving innovation and continuous improvement.
The workshop aligns with the SADC’s aspirations to harmonize policies and procedures for safe, secure, and humane custody, rehabilitation programs, and offender reintegration. Collaboration in this regard, contributes to overall improvements in the correctional systems within the SADC region.
The comprehensive workshop will cover a wide range of topics, including management of correctional facilities, working with female offenders, offender risk management, juvenile offender rehabilitation, humanization, staff training and development, entrepreneurship in prisons, addressing overcrowding, human rights approaches, open prison systems, and community service orders.
In his remarks, Neville Andre, the Governor of the Erongo Region, stressed the importance of prioritizing rehabilitation and implementing similar programs across all five countries represented at the workshop and within the broader SADC region.
He said research has demonstrated the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs in reducing recidivism rates and facilitating successful reintegration into society.
Andre stressed that implementing rehabilitation programs in isolation within individual countries is insufficient.
“Collaboration and cooperation among all SADC Member States are essential to ensure uniform and effective rehabilitation initiatives across the region. Sharing best practices, resources, and knowledge can lead to a more efficient and consistent approach to rehabilitation,” he said.
According to Andre, a harmonized rehabilitation approach within the SADC region not only benefits individuals but also contributes to regional stability and development. Reducing recidivism rates eases the burden on correctional systems, enhances public safety, and fosters economic growth.
Andre said that in order to realize this vision, open dialogue and partnerships among SADC Member States are crucial.
He said the exchange of ideas, experiences, and expertise will help develop comprehensive rehabilitation frameworks tailored to each country’s specific needs and resources.
According to Andre, the Peer Interaction Training Workshop for Officers in Charge represents a significant step toward achieving this goal.
