Saturday, May 28, 2022
  • About Us
  • ImagiNATION
  • Adverts
  • Rate Card
  • Contact Us
The Nation Online
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Columns
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Columns
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home News National News

Prison congestion worries MHRC

by Johnny Kasalika
20/03/2012
in National News
2 min read
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare on LinkedinLinkedinShare via Email

There are 663 suspects at Chichiri Prison in Malawi’s commercial city, Blantyre, awaiting trial, the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has said.

MHRC director of legal services Chrispin Sibande disclosed in an interview on Monday after the commission visited the prison for a European Union (EU)- funded study that the figure is shocking.

He said out of the 663 suspects, 233 are answering murder charges. Sibande said the total number of inmates and those on remand is 1 897 and that there are 51 females and eight babies being held for the ‘sins’ committed by their mothers.

Sibande said it is shocking for a single prison to hold over 600 people on remand and described it as a serious threat to the rule of law.

 

‘Overcrowding serious threat’

MHRC commissioner Veronica Sembereka, who led the team that visited the cells and interviewed inmates, the suspects and the prison officials, said the cells are overcrowded.

Sembereka said a cell meant for 80 inmates is holding 193 people or more. She said local prisons have always been overcrowded, but the Judiciary strike has worsened the situation.

Said Sembereka: “The prison officials have been given a lot of work and the budget [for the Malawi Prison Service] will be exhausted if the Judiciary strike is not resolved. The human rights of the suspects are not fully respected because they cannot be taken to court.”

She said MHRC team, which will also visit other prisons in the Southern Region, is concerned over the congestion and the number of people that are supposed to be taken to courts.

She disclosed that at Chichiri Prison alone, there were reported cases of 22 deaths in the last 12 months.

Previous Post

Connection delays irk BWB chair

Next Post

Germany pumps 3 000 euros into Blantyre Arts Festival

Related Posts

RBM headquarters in Lilongwe
Front Page

RBM justifies devaluation stance

May 28, 2022
Kumchulesi: Financing options are available
National News

NPC gears up to empower young entrepreneurs for MW2063 results

May 28, 2022
Bingu’s residence named Casablanca Manor 
at his Ndata Farm in Thyoo
Front Page

ACB sleeps on Bingu’s wealth investigation

May 28, 2022
Next Post

Germany pumps 3 000 euros into Blantyre Arts Festival

Opinions and Columns

Off the Shelf

Poor timing of Aggreko decommissioning now hurting

May 28, 2022
My Diary

Corruption as an elephant

May 28, 2022
Business Unpacked

Tame egos, take risks to grow economy

May 26, 2022
People’s Tribunal

What was that press briefing all about?

May 22, 2022

Trending Stories

  • His case heard in UK court: Sattar

    Acb explains Sattar miss

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • K14bn road fund down the drain

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Kwacha gets 25% weaker

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • AmaZulu complete signing Gaba

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Gone but still in our midst

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Malawi-Music.com Top10

  • Values
  • Our Philosophy
  • Editorial policy
  • Advertising Policy
  • Code of Conduct
  • Plagiarism disclaimer
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use

© 2022 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Columns
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation

© 2020 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.