Authorities at Ntchisi Prison have expressed concern over congestion at the facility.

Speaking on Wednesday during a court users committee meeting organised by National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust, Ntchisi Prison station officer Ernest Kavwenje said they were struggling to get sufficient food for inmates.

He said the prison, initially designed to accommodate 100 inmates, now has 223.

Ntchisi Prison has too many inmates

Out of the 223 inmates, 169 are convicts while 59 are on remand. 

Kavwenje said they are failing to refer some of the inmates to Lilongwe Prison, popularly known as Maula, due to lack of funds.

Nice Ntchisi civic education officer Emmanuel Banda said they will take up the matter with relevant stakeholders to see how best to solve the challenges.

He said as one way of reducing the congestion, his organisation is supporting mobile courts to ensure speedy completion of cases.

“We are promoting access to justice by ensuring that people’s rights are not infringed,” said Banda.

He said under the European Union-funded Chilungamo Project, they will strengthen structures at district as well as area level to promote access to justice.

Ntchisi district social welfare officer Dennis Sikwese called for more awareness campaigns on human rights and responsibilities to reduce crime.

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