Prison fellowship in Balaka reforms 400 ex-prisoners
Prison Fellowship Malawi (PFM) transitory home in Balaka has since its inception in 2005, rehabilitated about 400 ex-prisoners nationwide, it has been learnt.
The facility has trained ex-prisoners in vocational, entrepreneurship, life skills and counselling.
This came to light on Monday when Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Grace Chiumia visited the centre to appreciate the work it is doing to reform prisoners.
She said: “I want to urge communities to welcome back ex-inmates in their communities as the skills they acquire from this institution can transform the socio-economic development of the country.”
PFM executive director Rodrick Zalimba said with funding of about 960 000 euros (K828 million) from the European Union (EU), the institution will soon be admitting inmates remaining with only six-months jail term to undergo the vocational trainings. This is in contrast to the time when the centre used to admit ex-inmates only.
Commissioner of Prisons responsible for operations Masauko Wiskoti said once the maintenance of the institution is complete, the Malawi Prison Service (MPS) will deploy its staff to the centre to look after inmates undergoing the transition.
PFM is an ecumenical faith-based organisation founded in 2001 under the United Nations (UN) basic principles on the use of restorative justice programmes in criminal matters.
It works in collaboration with the MPS, Malawi Police Service, Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training Authority (Teveta), Prison Fellowship International (PFI) and Malawi Human Rights Commission. n
