The Thyolo All-female prison is breathing a sigh of relief after receiving a donation of a 5,000-litre water tank from the Water Employees Trade Union of Malawi (WETUM) on Saturday. 

The union, which comprises five water boards, has also provided food and non-food items worth K8 million to the inmates.

Prison Officer in-Charge, Superintendent Emily Banda, hailed the donation as a "demonstration of human gesture" and source of inspiration to the prison, which has been facing water challenges.

"The donation is a demonstration of human gesture and source of inspiration to the prison which has been facing water challenges," said Superintendent Banda.

WETUM General Secretary, Davie Maluwa, said their mission was to share joy, love, and encouragement to those in difficult moments. 

"Our mission was to share joy, love, and encouragement to those in difficult moments," he said.

Inmate Ethel Makwinja expressed gratitude for the gesture, saying it had brought spiritual comfort and eased their water woes. 

"We used to walk long distances to fetch water, but now we have it at our doorstep," she said.

The donation to 41 inmates (plus eight kids) includes soap, body lotion, children clothes, sugar, and maize flour.