Malawi Prisons Service has today, the 10th of August, 2022 launched a Restorative Justice and Peace Building (RJPB) 3 year project in all its formations at a ceremony held at Thope Lodge in Mponela.

This follows a successful implementation of a pilot Project of RJPB in its eastern region formations that started on the 2nd of April, 2022 to the 31st of July, 2022.

Speaking on behalf of the Mennonite Central Commitee (MCC) that is financially sponsoring the Project, National Peace Building Coordinator for Malawi and Zambia Issa Sad Embobolo said he was impressed with how the pilot phase was implemented.

“The Pilot Project was like a courtship period between MCC and MPS, and MCC is happy now to enter into marriage with MPS because of how the project was implemented” he remarked.

Taking his turn, the Commissioner responsible for Administration and Finance commended both MCC and the MPS Project Management Team for implementing the Pilot project with surgical efficiency.

“MPS is happy to note that all the Prisons in the eastern region have Peace Clubs and that have registered an enormous number of successful Victim-offender reconciliations that will enhance successful reintegration of offenders into their respective communities upon expiry of their sentences. When we first launched the Pilot project, only few believed that it is possible to facilitate a reconciliation between an offender and a victim. But looking at so many success stories of reconciliation registered in the Pilot Project, we are geared to take the project to all the remaining Prison facilities” said Kainja as he officially opened a five day training for RJPB station facilitators from Southern, Central and Northern region prison formations.

Restorative Justice and Peace Building seeks to establish Peace Clubs in the prisons with an aim of encouraging non-violent means of solving conflicts between Prisoners and the Prison authorities. It also seeks to facilitate reconciliation between Prisoners and the people they had offended through an arrangement called Victim-Offender Conferencing with an aim of enhancing a successful reintegration of offenders into their respective communities upon expiry of their sentences.

The Pilot Project registered a number of successful reconciliations between Prisoners and the people they had offended.

Credit; Malawi Prisons Service Facebook Page