Assessment of the experiences of female prisoners in Tanzania : A case study of Kinondoni

prison
Jacqueline Halima Kayyemba Mgumia
Master of Arts (Development Studies)
University of Dar es salaam, Institute of Development Studies, 2005

There were two reasons in undertaking a research about women prisoners at Kingolwira
female prison. First, it is the only prison for women in Tanzania. Second, although women
represent 6.6 percent of the total prison population in Tanzania, very few studies have done
toward female prisoners in the country, compared to studies carried out in Australia, Britain,
and United States. The study examined characteristics and conditions of a female prisoner at
Kingolwira Prison. This research was designed as qualitative case study, whereby interviews
were administered to 30 female prisoners and 12 prison officials at Kingolwira Prison.
However, qualitative approach was also used to describe and draw similarities in what female
prisoners do, say and reported as their experiences during and after imprisonment. The study
employed both purposely and stratified sampling techniques in selection of respondents of the
study. The data collected was analyzed was analyzed using simple descriptive statistic and
narrative analysis through the Statistical Package of Social Science at University of Dar es
salaam. The findings describes in what ways the Kingolwira female prisoners both resembles
and differs from the national profiles of imprisoned female population found in other
countries. The female prisoner at Kingolwira is older, poor, less educated, likely to be a
mother with more than three children, to have suffered from a history of physical and sexual
abuse as an adult, and to be serving time for a violent or domestic offence. She lives in a
prison which lacks medical facilities, quality food, and rehabilitation programs.
The findings recommended for more research in relation to women’s criminality, abuse and
poverty, while improvements toward health, sports, and parenting programs should be
considered immediately. The study also emphasizes on development of programs which will
address “life of women after prison” by focusing on economic empowerment, self-esteems
and parental/child relationship of female prisoners.