An understanding of lived experience and constructs of prolonged remand prisoners in Zimbabwe

Tamuka Davira; Jephias Matunhu; Hilda Jaka Mabiza; Shepherd Gudyani

doi:10.51867/AQSSR.2.2.37

Authors

Tamuka Davira Great Zimbabwe University, Zimbabwe Author https://orcid.org/0009-0008-5089-6171
Jephias Matunhu Midlands State University, Box 100 Zvishavane, Zimbabwe Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8415-5867
Hilda Jaka Mabiza Great Zimbabwe University, Zimbabwe Author https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3119-3872
Shepherd Gudyani Great Zimbabwe University, Zimbabwe Author https://orcid.org/0009-0009-4590-4090

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51867/AQSSR.2.2.37

Keywords:

Justice, Prisoners, Prolonged Remand, Rights, Zimbabwe

Abstract

The study explored the lived experiences and constructs of inmates placed on prolonged pre-trial detention in Zimbabwe. It highlighted that issues of delayed justice are rampant in Zimbabwe, leading to most accused people being placed on extended pre-trial detention in Zimbabwean jails. In conducting the study, the researchers used a qualitative research design anchored in interpretive phenomenological analysis as a means of understanding the lived experiences and constructs of prolonged remand prisoners. A sample size of 13 research participants was purposively sampled. Data from the research field were analyzed thematically. The study was based on a legal framework that highlighted various international protocols, regional, and national laws addressing the rights of the accused. Findings from the study revealed that inmates experienced stress, depression, and felt cut off from their families. To address these issues, the research emphasized the need to provide pro bono services to inmates who cannot afford legal representation. The study concludes that pre-trial detention should be minimized by increasing the number of trial judges. Furthermore, there is a need for the justice system to enhance justice delivery by providing counseling to reduce stress and depression among pre-trial detainees, and to increase the availability of pro bono legal assistance for those unable to afford legal representation.

References

Amnesty International. (2018). Punished for being poor: Unjustified, excessive, and prolonged pre-trial detention in Madagascar. Amnesty International Report.

Ayuba, A. M. (2019). Justice delayed is justice denied: An empirical study of causes and implications of delayed justice by the Nigerian courts.

Aziz, A. B. A. A., Aziz, A. B. A. A., Razak, M. A. A., & Mohamad, Z. S., & Kamaluddin, M. R. (2022). The implications of imprisonment of husbands towards the wives: A qualitative study in Malaysia. Journal of Positive School Psychology, 6(8), 168-179.

Castro, T. G. (2019). Pre-trial detention in Latin America: The disproportionate impact on women deprived of liberty for drug offenses. Women, Drug Policy and Incarceration Policy Brief. https://idpc.net/publications/2019/06/pretrial-detention-in-latin-america-the-disproportionate-impact-on-women-deprived-of-liberty-for-drug-offenses

Chinhamo, O., & Ngwenya, B. (2023). Justice delayed is justice denied: Persecution by prosecution in the case of Zengeza West Opposition Member of Parliament Job Sikhala. Research report sponsored by Southern Defenders, Southern African Human Rights Defenders Association, Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, Civic Space Network, and Political Prisoners in Africa.

Creswell, J. W. (2003). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage Publications.

Davira, T., & Matunhu, J. (2025a). The impact of delayed justice on the victims' households in Zimbabwe. Lwati: A Journal of Contemporary Research, 22(1), 55-75.

Davira, T., & Matunhu, J. (2025b). Factors contributing to delayed justice delivery in Zimbabwe. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), 9(4), 55-61. https://dx.doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.90400396 DOI: https://doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.90400396

Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (2011). The Sage handbook of qualitative research. Sage Publications.

Digard, L., & Swavola, E. (2019). Justice denied: The harmful and lasting effects of pretrial detention. Vera Evidence Brief.

Ella Baker Center for Human Rights. (2015). Who pays? The true cost of incarceration on families. Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Forward Together, & Research Action Design.

ENHRI. (2022). Human rights based approach. https://enhri.org/about-nbris/human-rights-based-approach/

ENHRI. (2023). Human rights based approach. https://enhri.org/about-nhris/human-rights-based-aproach/

Flick, U. (2014). An introduction to qualitative research (5th ed.). Sage Publications.

Giorgi, A. (1994). A phenomenological perspective on certain qualitative research methods. Journal of Phenomenological Psychology, 25(2), 190-220. https://doi.org/10.1163/156916294X00034 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/156916294X00034

Heard, C., & Fair, H. (2019). Pretrial detention and its overuse: Evidence from ten countries. Institute for Criminal Policy Research. World Prison Brief.

Human Rights 2 Water. (2021). A human rights based approach: A practical guide for the realization of the human rights to water and sanitation through programming.

Juwaki, Y. K. (2012). Towards trial of the forgotten: An enquiry into the constitutional rights to speedy trial for remand prisoners in Zimbabwe (Master's thesis). International Institute of Social Studies.

Leclerc, C., & Euvrard, E. (2019). Pleading guilty: A voluntary or coerced decision? Canadian Journal of Law and Society, 34(3), 457-478. https://doi.org/10.1017/cls.2019.33 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/cls.2019.33

Moutsakas, C. (1994). Phenomenological research methods. Sage Publications.

Mutingh, L., & Redpath, J. (2015). The socio-economic impact of pre-trial detention in Kenya, Mozambique, and Zambia. Southern Africa Resource Watch.

Mutingh, L., & Redpath, J. (2018). The socio-economic impact of pre-trial detention in Kenya, Mozambique, and Zambia. Hague Journal on the Rule of Law, 10, 139-164. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40803-017-0062-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40803-017-0062-1

Mutiwekuziva, T. (2020). Delivering justice in Zimbabwe's courts. Transparency International. https://www.transparency.org/en/blog/delivering-justice-in-zimbabwes-courts

Open Society Foundation. (2011). The socioeconomic impact of pretrial detention. Open Society Justice Initiative.

Orjiakor, C. T., Ugwu, D. I., Eze, J. E., Ugwu, L. I., Ibeagha, P. N., & Onu, D. U. (2017). Prolonged incarceration and prisoners' wellbeing: Lived experiences of awaiting trial, pre-trial, and remand prisoners in Nigeria. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being, 12(1), 1395677. https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2017.1395677 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2017.1395677

Pelvin, H. (2017). Doing uncertain time: Understanding the experiences of punishment in pre-trial custody (Doctoral dissertation). University of Toronto.

Penal Reform International. (2021). Global prison trends 2021. https://www.penalreform.org/global-prison-trends-2021/

Pew Charitable Trusts. (2023). Racial disparities continue in many U.S. jails.

Polkinghorne, D. E. (1989). Phenomenological research methods. In R. S. Valle & S. Healings (Eds.), Existential phenomenological perspectives in psychology (pp. 41-60). Plenum.

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-6989-3_3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-6989-3_3

Schointech, M. (2014). Presumption of guilt: The global overuse of pretrial detention. Open Society Justice Initiative.

Schointech, M. (2018). Global pre-trial detention use: A cross-national analysis. City University of New York.

Smith, J., Flowers, P., & Larkin, M. (2009). Interpretive phenomenological analysis: Theory, method & research. Sage.

Strauss, A. L., & Corbin, J. M. (1990). Basics of qualitative research (Vol. 15). Sage Publications.

The Judicial Training Institute. (2021). Judges induction compendium (First ed.). Judicial Service Commission.

TIMAP Report. (2013). The socio-economic impact of pretrial detention in Sierra Leone. Carried out by Timap for Justice and Prison Watch Sierra Leone in collaboration with UNDP and the Open Society Justice Initiative.

Transparency International Zimbabwe. (2020). Judicial corruption in Zimbabwe. ISBN 978-1-77929-947-5.

Van Maanen, J. (1979). Reclaiming qualitative methods for organizational research: A preface. Administrative Science Quarterly, 24(4), 520-526. https://doi.org/10.2307/2392358 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/2392358

Van Manen, M. (1990). Researching lived experience: Human science for an action-sensitive pedagogy. State University of New York Press.

Vaswani, N. (2019). The trauma, bereavement, and loss of women in prison. Centre for Youth and Criminal Justice.

Wallace, W. C., Hill, B., & Rosales, A. R. (2020). Remanded in custody and punished without trial: The criminal justice system and remand populations in Trinidad and Tobago. Justice Policy Journal, 17(1), 1-28.

Walmsley, R. (2016). World pretrial detention/remand list (3rd ed.). Institute for Criminal Policy Research, World Prison Brief.

Wendell, C. W., Hill, B., & Rosales, A. R. (2020). Remand in custody punished without trial: The criminal justice system and remand population in Trinidad and Tobago. Justice Policy Journal, Spring 2020, 1-28.

Legal Clauses

African charter on Human and People's rights. Article 7 (d). Right to fair hearing

International Convention on Civil and Political rights, Article 14 (3) (c). Right to fair hearing

Zimbabwe Constitution Amendment no 20, Act 2013. Section 68 (1) (2). Right to fair hearing