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Prisons to adopt parole by next year—Nkhoma

Chichiri Prison in Blantyre - by JOAO SILVA for The New York Times
Chichiri Prison in Blantyre – by JOAO SILVA for The New York Times

The Malawi Prison Service (MPS) is getting closer to adopting the parole system, which is expected to help lessen cases of congestion and misconduct, in correctional facilities.

The Prisons Act of 1962 empowers the President and minister responsible for prisons to order the release of prisoners before their sentence expires, but the parole guidelines under review recommend the establishment of a board to ensure that convicts so released serve the remainder in their communities.

Speaking during a consultative meeting in Liwonde, Commissioner of Prisons Kennedy Nkhoma said the views of the participants as well as experiences emanating from a tour of Zambia, Swaziland, Botswana and Namibia, will help MPS and the Law Commission come up with legislation to enhance the handling of offenders.

“Apart from reducing overcrowding in our prisons, the parole system will ensure that the prisoners are putting to good use the skills and knowledge which they obtain while serving their sentence,” said Nkhoma.

He expects the Law Commission to pass the Parole Bill, which forms part of the review of the Prisons Act, to be passed into a law by July next year.

Chairperson of the Prisons Inspectorate Committee, Justice Kenani Manda, said the bill will not only lessen the burden prisons exert on national resources, but cutting back on the population of inmates.

“Apart from reducing food, water and other costs government incurs on running overcrowded prisons, the parole system will help us save the resources we spend on TB and other diseases,” said Manda, a High Court Judge resident at the commercial section.”

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