The Chief Commissioner of the Malawi Prison Service, Grace Wandika Phiri, has emphasized the need to improve the welfare of officers in order to enhance security in the country’s prisons.

During a ceremony for the handover of 20 staff houses by the Ministry of Lands to the Ministry of Homeland Security at Mzuzu Prison, Phiri noted that many officers were still renting houses, which negatively impacted service delivery.

The newly constructed houses were a welcome relief to the service, she said. The ceremony was attended by Deputy Minister of Lands, Deus Gumba and Homeland Security Minister, Jean Sendeza.

The construction of ten thousands houses for security agencies was launched by President Lazarus Chakwera in December 2020 at Ipyana in Karonga District.