Rhodesia Prison Service
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Agency overview | |
---|---|
Formed | 1965 |
Preceding agencies |
|
Dissolved | 1980 |
Superseding agency | |
Headquarters | Salisbury |
Motto | Tenax et Justus Latin: "Just and Tenacious" |
The Rhodesia Prison Service (RPS) was a law enforcement agency of Rhodesia. A subdivision of the Rhodesian Security Forces, it was responsible for the administration of the Rhodesian prison system. Established in 1954 as the Southern Rhodesia Prison Department and incorporated into the federal prison service of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, it continued as the prison service of independent Rhodesia during the UDI period. Upon Zimbabwe's independence in 1980, it was dissolved and superseded by the .
The RPS was led by the director of prisons, who was assisted by a deputy director and an assistant director. The first director of prisons was in 1954, and the final officeholder was , serving from 1968 to 1980.
History[]
Prior to 1954, prisons in Southern Rhodesia were administered by the Southern Rhodesia Prison Department (SRPD).[1] On 30 November 1954, the of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland passed the Prisons Department Act (49/1954), which incorporated the SRPD into the (FPS), effective 1 December 1954.[2] This arrangement continued until December 1963, when the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland dissolved and autonomy was returned to the individual colonies of Southern Rhodesia, Northern Rhodesia, and Nyasaland, the latter two of which gained independence in 1964 as Zambia and Malawi, respectively. From 1963, the service continued as the Southern Rhodesia Prison Service (SRPS).[1] In 1965, shortly before Rhodesia's unilateral declaration of independence from the United Kingdom, the SRPS began using the name Rhodesia Prison Service.[1]
In 1980, upon Zimbabwe's independence, the RPS was dissolved and superseded by the .
Organizational structure[]
Administration and personnel[]
The headquarters of the Rhodesia Prison Service was located at the corner of Fourth Street and Jameson Avenue (today renamed Samora Machel Avenue).[1]
# | Ranks 1975 |
---|---|
1 | Director of Prisons |
2 | Deputy Director of Prisons |
3 | Assistant Director of Prisons |
4 | Senior Chief Superintendent |
5 | Chief Superintendent |
6 | Superintendent |
7 | Chief Prison Officer |
8 | Principal Prison Officer |
9 | Established Prison Officer |
10 | Prison Officer |
11 | Chief Warder |
12 | Sergeant Major |
13 | Sergeant |
14 | Corporal |
15 | Lance Corporal |
16 | Warder |
Source: | [3] |
Prison system[]
The Rhodesia Prison Service administered more than 40 prisons.[1]
Prison | Location | Security type | Note(s) |
---|---|---|---|
Beitbridge | |||
Bindura | |||
Binga | |||
Chiredzi | Renamed Chiredzi Prison | ||
Bulawayo | Medium/Remand | Commonly known as Grey Street Prison | |
Salisbury | |||
Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison | Maximum | ||
Medium | |||
Chipinga | |||
Gwelo | Closed 1979/80 | ||
Enkeldoorn | Renamed Chivhu Prison | ||
Fort Victoria | Renamed Masvingo Prison | ||
Gatooma | Renamed Kadoma Prison Farm | ||
Gonakudzingwa Detention Camp | Vila Salazar | Closed 1979 | |
Fort Victoria | Satellite of Fort Victoria Prison; farm prison | ||
Gwanda | |||
Gwelo | Renamed Gweru Prison | ||
Hartley | Closed 1968 | ||
Formerly a prison | |||
Karoi | |||
Salisbury | Satellite of Salisbury Central Prison | ||
Bulawayo | Maximum | Held mentally ill prisoners | |
Medium | |||
Open | |||
Marandellas | Renamed Marondera Prison | ||
Mrewa | Renamed Murewa Prison | ||
Mtoko | |||
Salisbury | Satellite of Salisbury Central Prison | ||
Nyamandhlovu | Renamed Anju Prison Farm | ||
Plumtree | |||
Que Que | Renamed Kwekwe Prison | ||
Rusape | |||
Salisbury Central Prison | Salisbury | Medium (Maximum & remand sections) | Renamed Harare Central Prison |
Remand | Renamed Harare Central Remand Prison | ||
Shabani | Renamed Zvishavane Prison | ||
Sinoia | Renamed Chinhoyi Prison | ||
Selukwe | Renamed Shurugwi Prison | ||
Wankie | |||
Umtali | Renamed Mutare Prison | ||
Wankie | Renamed Hwange Prison | ||
Gwelo | Maximum | ||
Medium |
Seal and flag[]
The seal of the Rhodesia Prison Service consists of a yellow lion with a red tongue and white claws, standing on a horizontal white bar. The background color of the circular emblem in which the lion stands is light green. Above the circle is the Zimbabwe Bird, of gold color and outlined in dark brown. Rising vertically through the center of the circle is a sheathed sword inlaid with silver design and with a black point. The hilt of the sword consisted of a gold guard and pommel, and a black and white grip. Curved around the edge of the interior of the circle are the words "Rhodesia Prison Service" in white color. The lines of the circle are black, there are two white circular borders: one around the lion, and another serving as the exterior border of the emblem. Below the circle, just beneath the hilt of the sword, is the red and yellow flower of the flame lily, Rhodesia's national flower.[1]
The flag of the Rhodesia Prison Service was a light green flag, of 2:1 proportions, with the RPS emblem in the center. The RPS emblem and flag were designed by Alan Simpson.[1]
References[]
- ^ a b c d e f g "RPS Home Page". www.rhodesianprisonservices.ca. Retrieved 2017-12-15.
- ^ Beadle, Hugh (1963). The statute law of Southern Rhodesia, in force on or made before the 30th day of April, 1963. Printed by Mardon Rhodesian Printers. pp. 309–10.
- ^ "Rhodesia Prison Service Insignia." Prison Service of Rhodesia. Retrieved 2019-09-01.
- Defunct government agencies
- Military of Rhodesia
- National law enforcement agencies
- Prison and correctional agencies
- 1954 establishments in the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
- 1954 establishments in Southern Rhodesia
- 1980 disestablishments in Zimbabwe
- Government agencies established in 1954
- Government agencies disestablished in 1980