Malawi courts slammed for prison congestion

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Victor Mhango

One of the country’s human rights organisations, Centre for Human Rights Education Advice and Assistance (CHREAA) has faulted Malawi’s justice system for congestion in prisons.

According to CHREAA, the country’s courts need to have alternative sentences for some offenders.

Victor Mhango
Mhango; Courts are responsible for Prison congestion.

Speaking to Malawi24, CHREAA executive director Victor Mhango argued that the judiciary gives most offenders prison sentences and this leads to overcrowding.

“You know some offenders are kept in prison like those charged with Rogue and Vagabond, to me if those could have been given community service this could have reduced the numbers of prisoners,” said Mhango.

Mhango further said government must address congestion challenges in all prisons in the country to avoid more deaths of inmates in prisons.

Recently, an inmate at Mzimba prison, Muda Mhango, 25, killed a fellow inmate Abel Jere, 40, as they were fighting for sleeping space in the prison’s toilet.

On 31 January this year, an inmate died at Zomba maximum prison and it is believed that the prisoner died due to a sickness that came about because of congestion.