Socio-Economic And Political Role Of Prison Institution In Zanzibar From 1890 To 1963

ABSTRACT

This thesis informs the Socio-Economic and Political Role of Prison Institution in Zanzibar from 1890 to 1963. It, specifically, informs how prison was operated. It then informs the socio-economic, as well as the political role of colonial prison in Zanzibar. The Marxist theory of state supplemented with Foucault Disciplinary Approach guided in generating and analysing data from primary and secondary sources. It is argued that operation of colonial prison was not accidental but it mainly focussed to fulfil the socio-economic and political interest of the capitalists. Colonial prison was operated on racial basis to maintain master-servant relation. Prison services, such as clothes, accommodation and diet were provided on racial basis. In addition, colonial prison used religious and secular instruction. These ideological weapons were imparted in the mind of Africans to control them in accordance to colonial interests. Colonial prison relied on hard labor. It incorporated aspects such as the establishment of camps, use of colonial medicines, system of remuneration and after care. Corporal as well as capital punishment were another aspects of colonial prison. All these increased the incentive to work for the betterment of colonial government. White prisoners were exempted from such punishment. This is partly because the colonial authority regarded Africans an uncivilized and a delinquent race. Such punishments created obedience to the white rule. Colonial prison experienced poor and inadequate infrastructure, as well as services that led to overcrowding and frequent infectious diseases. Under this situation, it did not win rehabilitation function rather it was institution of punishment. Colonial prison acted as social and crimes control institution for effective running of colonial government. Moreover, the colonial prison served political purpose of colonial authority. Political opponents were the victims of colonial prison. However, it sow „the seeds of its own destruction as it laid down the ground of liberation struggle for the independence of Zanzibar. Generally, British colonial administration left some colonial prisons and camps as relics of colonial administration in Zanzibar.