Malawi to build four more prisons

The Malawi government has said it intends to build at least four new prisons in the country, including a maximum security prison in Lilongwe, as a way of improving life conditions in the country's prisons, website of local newspaper The Nation reported Friday.

Vuwa Kaunda, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Symon made the revelation on Wednesday during a tour of Maula Prison in Lilongwe, saying the ministry is aware of problems inmates are facing due to congestion in the country's prisons.

"We intend to ease congestion by constructing new prisons and rehabilitating the already existing ones. Government will be constructing a new maximum security prison in Lilongwe and other prisons in the districts that have no prisons," said Kaunda.

He said the role of prisons in Malawi has changed from punitive to correctional and rehabilitative in nature hence the need to improve living conditions for inmates.

"The role of Malawi Prison Service is to keep you in human conditions. Our role has shifted from punitive to correctional and rehabilitative in nature," he said.

Maula Prison has a maximum holding capacity of 600 inmates but currently holds at least 1,700 prisoners.