Seychelles and Tanzania prison services discuss further cooperation |21 December 2022

Mr St Ange (left) and CGP Nyamka addressing the gathering yesterday at the Montagne Posée Prison

• Tanzanian delegation on four-day mission at the Montagne Posée Prison

The Seychelles Prison Service (SPS) and the Tanzania Prison Service (TPS) have discussed extending the contract of the Tanzanian prison officers working at the Montagne Posée prison, now that their term is about to end next month.

This was one of the issues discussed by Commissioner of Prison, Raymond St Ange, and his Tanzanian counterpart, Commissioner General of Prisons (CGP), Mzee Ramadhani Nyamka, who is presently leading a delegation on a four-day mission to Seychelles.

The visit forms part of an ongoing exchange programme which started between the two institutions in 2018 with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU).

Speaking at a press conference at the Montagne Posée prison yesterday afternoon, Seychelles’ Commissioner of Prison, Raymond St Ange, said the visit was to review the MoU, as well as visit the facilities, and discuss possibility of further cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

He said one area that was discussed was the possibility of extending the contract of the TPS officers working at the Montagne Posée prison, now that their term comes to an end next month.

“The first cohort in 2018 included 23 Tanzanian officers and they were here until 2021. We now have 13 officers and we are now reviewing our engagement and we plan to recruit new Tanzanian prison officers, to balance it out with those recruited locally,” said Mr St Ange.

Another area discussed was training opportunities for Seychelles staff in Tanzania. Commissioner St Ange said SPS will identify two of its officers who will be travelling to Tanzania to see how they manage their 123 prisons, their 28,000 officers, and over 33,000 inmates.

“We think it is important that we look at how another jurisdiction is functioning. At present they have the same issues as us such as contraband, mobile phones etc and they are also working hard to address these issues. We will learn from each other,” said Mr St Ange.

SPS is also seeking assistance for training in specialised areas such as medical and psycho-social for inmates with behavioural issues.

The TPS is also looking into the possibility of sending two qualified nurses for a 6-month deployment at the SPS next year.

Mr St Ange has thanked the TPS for this announcement stating this was a unit that was sometimes overlooked and where they need staff.

He said that while they relook at the recruitment of competent local nurses locally, the TPS has agreed to assist.

“We have many nurses who want to come but it is a process that needs to be relooked. We are discussing with the ministry but in the meantime as a stop gap, TPS agreed to send two nurses, of course we have to wait for the approval of the Seychelles Nurses Council,” Mr St Ange said.

For his part, CGP Nyamka, who was appointed in August this year, has also praised the existing cooperation between the two sides, stating it has been beneficial to both parties.

He said following his visit to the prison, his first observation was that SPS was functioning as per the country’s laws and the establishment had similar issues like TPS when it comes to correction of prisoners.

However he pointed out that TPS had facilities that were not available in Seychelles and which could be used as a model for SPS.

“For example correctional programme that is not applicable like one for the young offenders, which is not being practiced here. But in Tanzania we have separate special facilities for young offenders. However the commissioner has told me that plans are underway to have those facilities next year,” he said.

He said he was looking forward to further cooperation and exchanges as the two institutions learn from each other.

CGP Nyamka’s visit to Seychelles is the second visit by a CGP and it follows the accreditation of the high commissioner of Tanzania to Seychelles, Dr John Stephen Simbachawene in September this year.

Other than visiting the prison facilities, CGP Nyamka has since his arrival on Monday paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Internal Affairs, Roy Fonseka, the Commissioner of Seychelles Police, Ted Barbe, and held several talks with SPS’ high officials, as well as TPS prison officers based at Montagne Posée.

The Tanzanian delegation also include Senior Assistant Commissioner of Prisons (SACP) George T. Mwambashi, Superintendent (SP) Joseph Temba, Assistant Inspector (A/INSP) Vincent M. Komba and one officer from the Tanzanian high commission, Nairobi, Kenya. They leave Seychelles tomorrow.

Patsy Canaya