Youth congest Chikwawa Prison
Chikwawa Prison officer-in-charge Maxwell Kamowa has bemoaned increased numbers of young people in the district’s prison.
Speaking on Tuesday during Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) open day at the prison, Kamowa asked government and other stakeholders to initiate programmes that will stop the trend.
He said it was sad to note that over 90 percent of the inmates at the facility are youths.
“This is not a good. We suspect that something is wrong somewhere. This is the time we all need to enhance initiatives that will enhance the living standards of our young people in the country,” he said.
Recently, Chikwawa district youth representative Apostle John Alufandika said in an interview that due to lack of employment and other entrepreneurship opportunities, many youths indulge in malpractices that land them in troubles.
In his remarks, Chikwawa district youth officer (DYO) Macneil Shire, who was the guest of honour at the event, said the Ministry of Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development is implementing programmes aimed at uplifting the country’s youth.
He cited programmes such as community technical colleges, entrepreneurial vocational trainings and graduate internships.
Statistics at the DYO show that in Chikwawa alone, out of every 100 people, 46 are youths.
