CHREAA Reiterates Calls Zomba Maximum Prison Rehabilitation
Mhango
- internet photo
Centre for Human Rights Education, Advice and Assistance (CHREAA) has reiterated calls for the government to rehabilitate or else relocate the inmates at Zomba Maximum prison to other correctional facilities, years after Malawi Prison Inspectorate declared the prison unfit, owing to its state.
CHREAA’s Executive director, Victor Mhango has told Zodiak Online Monday that lives of inmates are at risk as they continue living in a facility which was declared unfit some years ago.
Mhango said it is worrisome to note that the recommendation made by Malawi prison inspectorate is yet to be implemented.
"Government has been talking about construction of Chitedze Maximum Prison in Lilongwe for years now, its high time construction works were completed for the prisoners to be accommodated in safe environment," said Mhango.
Spokesperson for Malawi Prison Service (MPS), Chimwemwe Shaba said they are banking on the construction of the state of the art Chitedze Maximum Security prison which will address issues raised by prison inspectorate.
Shaba added that the correctional facility will also decongest some prisons in the country.
Zomba Maximum Prison, built in 1935, is the only maximum-security prison in the country, holding prisoners with long and serious offences, but human rights activists have condemned it for its poor conditions describing it as a death trap.
