A total of 63 cases have been presented under the newly introduced plea bargaining initiative at Lilongwe Prison, with 10 already resolved, marking early progress in efforts to speed up the delivery of justice.
Malawi Prison Services (MPS) Public Relations Officer, Steve Meke confirmed the development, describing the outcome as a positive start to the pilot phase.
“Out of the 63 cases that were presented, 10 have been successfully resolved so far,” he said.
The plea bargaining programme, also known as kunenelera mlandu, was launched on March 2, 2026, targeting homicide cases at Lilongwe Prison.
It allows accused persons to voluntarily agree with prosecutors to plead guilty to lesser charges in exchange for lighter sentences, subject to court approval, and in some instances involves victims.
Authorities say the initiative is expected to be expanded to other prisons and extended to cover additional types of offences.
Officials further indicate that the approach is likely to ease prison congestion, improve rehabilitation efforts, and reduce stress among inmates by enabling quicker resolution of cases.
