Tue, 09 Jan 2018 11:04:50 +0000
By CHARLES MUSONDA, CHINTU MALAMBO and ANDREW MUKOMA
CONGESTION in Lusaka region correctional facilities has hit 400 percent, the Lusaka High Court heard yesterday.
Zambia Correctional Services (ZCS) Lusaka regional commanding officer Crispin Kaonga said as of 06:30 hours yesterday, Lusaka Central prison had 1,211 inmates, Kamwala Remand prison had 472 prisoners, while Mwembeshi farm had 300 inmates.
Mr. Kaonga said Mwembeshi maximum security prison had 574 inmates, while at Chainama hospital prison there were 104 inmates and Lusaka female section had 118 inmates, bringing the total to 2,778.
He said this in a his gaol delivery during the opening of the Lusaka High Court criminal sessions for 2018 before session Judge Mwila Chitabo, who sat with Judges Edward Musona and Mathew Chisunka.
Mr. Kaonga said the Lusaka Central correctional facility was originally designed to hold 320 inmates but currently it had 1,211 inmates.
He said a number of inmates were awaiting sentences, which had made it difficult to address the congestion.
Mr. Kaonga said since Lusaka High Court Judge Eddie Sikazwe’s retirement, the prison had cases pending confirmation while a number of convicted juveniles were equally awaiting confirmation.
And Livingstone state correctional facility has remained the highest and most congested facility in Southern Province with a total of 714 inmates as of January 8, 2018 by 06:00 hours.
And High Court Session Judge in Charge Susan Mtonga Wanjelani has urged the correctional facilities in the Southern province to maintain high standard of hygiene in view of the cholera outbreak.
