Maravi

Prisons have remained congested - Chato

Prisons have remained congested - Chato
By Fridah Nkonde in Ndola
Sun 03 July 2011, 10:10 CAT

COMMISSIONER of Prisons Percy Chato says Zambian prisons have remained congested even after embarking on a decongestion exercise. In an interview, Chato said there were over 15,000 prisoners instead of the 7,500 prisoners that are supposed to be in holding cells countrywide.

He said such levels of congestion were not good for the convicted individuals.
“Despite having too many people in prisons, we are making sure that these people are given normal and nutritious food. We have put up a budget of all the essential needs of the prisoners,” Chato said.

He also said prisoners did not only rely on the food supplied to the prisons but also provide supplementary foodstuffs by engaging in the rearing of animals and growing of different crops.

Chato said the food supplied to prisoners was examined by the environmental health technicians.

And Prisons Deputy Commissioner Dr Chileshe Chisela said despite the efforts made in decongesting the prisons, the challenge being faced was the turnover of remandees.

He said the courts should try by all means to speed up the process of disposing of cases, especially minor ones, because those with small cases awaiting judgment were the ones congesting the prisons.

“…40 per cent of the total number of prisoners are those under detention in our prisons which is quite a big number hence contributing to the congestion in prisons,” Dr Chisela said.

He said the decongestion exercise was successful despite the limited holding capacity of prisons.

Dr Chisela added that most of the prisons in Zambia were decongested during the exercise that was carried out.

“Kamwala Prisons which had seven hundred plus prisoners now has five hundred. Maximum prisons which had 1,700 now have 1,500, while other prisons such as Monze, Luwingu and Mpima prisons are under renovation,” said Dr Chisela.

Labels: PRISONS

posted by MrK @ 5:29 PM