Community service for prisoners

Community service “based on the productive, voluntary, non-paid services” of prisoners is to be introduced by the local tribunals or gacaca, trying genocide suspects, RNA reported. Justice Minister Jean de Dieu Mucyo said foreign experts from countries such as Brazil, Uganda and Zimbabwe - where community service had successfully been introduced - had been invited to come to Rwanda in an advisory capacity. “When the gacaca tribunal starts functioning, it is supposed that a person will serve part of his or her punishment in detention and another part outside, serving the community,” he stated. The tribunals are expected to begin work in April, RNA added.