Malawi and Zambia have carried out a symbolic inmate exchange at the Mwami Border Post in a gesture of growing diplomatic cooperation and shared correctional goals.
At a formal handover ceremony, Malawi’s Deputy High Commissioner to Zambia, Pontius Elijah Kalichero, hailed the transfer as a reflection of deep-rooted ties and mutual respect between the neighbouring nations. “This repatriation strengthens the deep relations that Malawi and Zambia have enjoyed over the years,” he said. “We have always found common ground on justice, immigration, and police matters.”
Under an existing Memorandum of Understanding between the Malawi Prison Service and the Zambia Correctional Service, the exchange saw Malawi receive 14 of its citizens—originally expected to be 22, but five were pardoned and three had completed their terms.
In return, 11 Zambians held in Malawi were repatriated. The inmates will continue serving the remainder of their sentences in their home countries.
The initiative, facilitated through the Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security, aims to improve inmate welfare and foster justice reform.
Malawi’s Prisons Commissioner of Operations, Aaron Kaunda, called the exchange both humanitarian and strategic, noting that proximity to family fosters hope, reconciliation, and rehabilitation. “Being closer to family gives inmates hope and facilitates reconciliation between offenders and victims,” he said.
Zambia’s Correctional Service Director of Operations, Deputy Commissioner Assaby Hamaleya, echoed the sentiment, saying the move supports the shift from punitive systems to restorative justice. “This isn’t the first time we’ve done this—we had a similar exchange in December 2024,” he said. “Rehabilitation works better when inmates are near their communities and support systems.”
Currently, Malawi hosts nearly 500 foreign inmates across its facilities. Officials say similar exchanges with neighbouring countries will continue, aiming to reduce those numbers and align correctional practices with modern rehabilitation principles.
