The Malawi Prison Service (MPS) says it is concerned about the double exceeding of inmates in it’s facilities.
MPS Commissioner General, Masauko Wisikoti said this on Thursday in Lilongwe, during the inspection of Maula Prison by the Minister of Homeland Security Kenneth Zikhale Ng’oma.
Wisikoti further said, the exceeding has resulted to the shortages of some resources including food in prisons.
“We are facing a number of challenges, one of those being overcrowding. The number of prisoners that we are keeping in our facilities is than expected” he said.
According to Wisikoti, currently Malawi Prisons are keeping 16,300 inmates against initial capacity of 8,000 inmates.
To his part, Zikhale Ng’oma said there are several measures set by Government to decongest the prisons.
“We are fighting to make sure that we have new facilities. Then the President Dr Lazarus Chakwera has been pardoning prisoners to make sure we decongest prisons” he said.
Meanwhile, Zikhale Ng’oma has encouraged inmates to register as voters for the next elections, saying it is their right as citizens of the country.
During the tour, the minister donated K5 Million and cartons of washing soap to Maula Prison.
