The ICRC's Harare Regional Delegation carries out humanitarian activities in Namibia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe and in collaboration with the National Red Cross Societies, focuses on visiting detainees to monitor their living conditions and treatment, improving access to water and sanitation and reconnecting families separated by conflict.
Below is an overview of the ICRC's Harare Regional Delegation work in 2015.
Visiting detainees and maintaining contact between separated families
In Zimbabwe, we
Visited 15,000 inmates to assess their living conditions and provide recommendations to the detaining authorities on their improvement
Supported agricultural production at prison farms enabling detaining authorities to provide vegetables, legumes and other crops to 18,000 inmates
Provided 15,000 inmates with non-food items, including uniforms and blankets
Rehabilitated the water supply system at Chikurubi Prison Complex to enable authorities to supply clean water to 10,000 inmates and prison officers
150 foreign detainees maintained contact with their families contributing to their release
Supported 25 prisons with supplementary feeding programmes for moderately malnourished detainees
Commenced rehabilitation of Mlondolozi Special Institution Prison to improve the living conditions of the inmates/patients and working conditions for social workers
Upgraded and refurbished 10 electric and back-up kitchens at 10 prisons
Supported the construction of two biogas digesters to reduce organic waste streams and reduce prison running costs
Repaired the secondary water network at Chikurubi Special Institution Prison and improved water supply through the installation of a booster and two 10 000l water storage
Supported a chlorine production pilot project at four prisons to enable sustainability through adopting cheaper means to maintain hygiene in prisons
Donated 6 different artisans’ toolkits to regional prison stations to enable improved maintenance of prison infrastructure
Financially supported two Zimbabwe prison officials to attend an ICRC course on prison management
In Namibia, we
Conducted follow up visits to 44 former detainees in Namibia to assess their success in reintegrating into the community
75 inmates met with their relatives through the Family Visit Programme with the support of the Namibia Red Cross Society
Promoting compliance with international humanitarian law (IHL)
Trained 2,600 members of the armed and security forces on IHL and IHRL, and role of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
Provided 490 university students with IHL guest lectures
Hosted an expert seminar for 17 military health personnel from 11 SADC countries enabling them to identify best practices in improving access to health care services during peace support operations
Co-hosted the Zimbabwe National IHL Moot Court Competition in partnership with the High Court of Zimbabwe and the Law Society of Zimbabwe
Sponsored a team of three students from Midlands State University (Zimbabwe) to attend the All Africa IHL Moot Court Competition in Arusha, Tanzania
Sponsored teams of students from the Midlands State University (Zimbabwe) and University of Malawi to participate in the Jean Pictet Competition
Co-hosted a sub –regional meeting on the ratification and implementation of the Convention on Cluster Munitions with the Government of Zambia for 20 senior government officials from Southern Africa
Demining in action
Provided the government demining unit with 10 sets of demining protection equipment, tools and anti-personnel mine detectors
Supported 15 Zimbabwe Mine Action Centre (ZIMAC) staff to participate in a predeployment refresher course for demining team leaders and instructors
Enhanced the capacity of the demining authorities to train their own personnel through an Instructors Course for 10 experienced deminers
Provided technical assistance to the demining authorities through regular field visits and consultations including an evaluation of Mine Risk Education activities carried out by ZIMAC
Working in partnership with the National Red Cross Societies
Trained 25 National Red Cross Society volunteers and staff as first aid trainers
Supported the Namibia Red Cross Society to publish and launch the International Humanitarian Law Handbook for Namibian Parliamentarians