Over 100 inmates proposed for parole in Tanzania

MWANZA: ABOUT 103 out of 113 inmates from various prisons across the country have been proposed for parole, allowing them to be released before the end of their jail terms.

Chairperson of the Parole Board, Ambassador Khamis Kagasheki, announced the news over the weekend, explaining that the nomination process begins at the prison level and is primarily based on inmates’ behavioural changes, among other criteria.

After the nominations, the names are submitted to the board for review to ensure that all criteria have been met. The board then re-evaluates the list before submitting both qualified and non-qualified names to the Minister for Home Affairs for further review.

“Qualified individuals will then be allowed to rejoin the community. However, the Parole Act mandates that anyone who violates the conditions of their parole must be returned to prison,” stated the Chairperson.

Commissioner General of Prisons (CGP) Jeremiah Katungu clarified that the selection process excludes inmates serving life sentences or those convicted of serious offenses, such as drug trafficking, human trafficking and extortion.

Eligible inmates must have served at least four years of their sentence and adhered to moral and ethical standards, the CGP noted.

Since the establishment of the Parole Board in 1999, a total of 5,771 inmates have been nominated for parole, with approximately 808 being disqualified.

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Mr Katungu also said that according to post-release supervision reports, less than one per cent of parole beneficiaries have been returned to prison due to violations of parole conditions.

“Rehabilitation programmes offered in all prisons are crucial for shaping inmates’ ethics. These programmes provide skills in areas such as masonry, carpentry, welding, crop and fish farming and animal husbandry, among others.

“When they are released, they engage in economic activities aligned with their expertise, leaving little room for criminal behaviour,” the CGP added.

He assured that the parole process is transparent to avoid favoritism, involving not only prison officials but also experts from other government departments and local governments where the inmates originate.