HARARE - At least 14 South Africans are being held in Zimbabwean jails.

They are among over 70 foreign nationals behind bars in the country, the majority for crossing the border illegally.

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The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission says these people should be deported and not held.

During a visit to the Harare Remand and Chikurubi Maximum Security prisons recently, the commission exposed inhumane conditions.

It's calling for an urgent intervention.

The commission inspected the Harare Remand and Chikurubi Maximum Security prisons.

It found inhumane conditions, lack of access to education, healthcare and delays in legal proceedings.

But, the commission also found dozens of undocumented migrants.

Some have been jailed for criminal offences but the majority are there for violating immigration laws.

The ZHRC says these people should be deported and not held in these jails.

Human rights lawyers are calling for the swift implementation of all the commission's findings.

Zimbabwean prisons can hold 17,000 prisoners but the population often exceeds this capacity.