Human rights advocates have called on government to set up a parole system where inmates with good conduct can be released from prisons as one way of addressing congestion.
Victor Mhango-Executive Director for Center for Human Rights Education Assistance and Advice-has made the call following the pardoning of 175 prisoners by President Lazarus Chakwera as part of independence celebrations.
According to Minister of Homeland Security Jean Sendeza, the pardoned prisoners include the elderly, breast feeding women and reformed prisoners who committed minor offenses and were about to finish their sentences.
Speaking to MIJ Online, Mhango commended President Chakwera for pardoning the prisoners but was quick to say that the numbers are too low.
“We are still not happy with the numbers, the 175 prisoners released will not bring a significant change in terms of congestion. There is need to review the guidelines used when pardoning prisoners as the ones used right now were set by our colonial masters when our prisons were less crowded,” said Mhango.
According to Mhango, Malawi’s prisons are heavily congested with some inmates who are not supposed to be under custody.
“I will give you example of Maula prison; Maula has over 3200 inmates who consumers about 38 bags of maize-floor weighing 50kgs on a daily basis. My worry is that Malawi is spending a lot of money feeding people who were not supposed to be in prison. We send people to prison for them to reform, hence there is need to put in place a transparent system that will monitor the conduct of inmates and pardon those that have so far displayed good conduct.” explained Mhango
He has since called on the need to set up a parole system that will conduct periodic and transparent prisoner-pardons for those who have displayed good conduct arguing a prison is a reformatory place.
CHREAA has also called on government to put in place measures that will see prisoners producing their own maize saying this will assist inmates to have descent meals as well as cut on prison expenses.