CSOs call for decongestion in Malawi prisons as response to Covid-19

With the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic having been declared a global emergency, there is an urgent need to address the high levels of congestion in Malawi prisons, civil society organisations (CSOs) have said.

CHREAA’s Victor Mhango at Chichiri prison: Call for prisoner release in response to Coronavirus

The CSOs that have issued the statement are Centre for Human Rights Advice Assistance and Education (CHREAA), Youth Watch Society, Paralegal Resource Centre, Southern Africa Litigation Centre and Child Rights Advocacy and Paralegal Aid Centre.

The Malawi government appointed a Special Cabinet Committee on coronavirus effective 7 March 2020, which was established to provide overall policy guidance, assess the impact and oversee the government’s response to the threats posed by COVID-19.

“This is commendable. We understand that one of the objectives of this Special Cabinet Committee is to recommend proactive measures to prevent the occurrence and subsequent spread of Covid-19 in Malawi,” a statement by the CSOs reads.

The CSOs contend that although Malawi does not currently have any registered case of Coronavirus, urgent holistic preventive measures are required focusing on the most vulnerable groups in our society, including prisoners.

“Without such preventive measures, Covid-19, once introduced, can rapidly spread in the country. For example, in South Africa, we have seen confirmed infections increase within the last 5 days from 16 to 85,” the statement says.

It adds that it is a well-known fact that the Malawi Prisons are overcrowded with over 14,000 prisoners against a capacity of 5,000 prisoners.

“According to the 2019 report of the Inspectorate of Prisons the Malawi prison population is at 260 percent of the official capacity. Given the scale and the speed with which the Covid-19 virus has been spreading elsewhere, once the virus penetrates Malawi, our prisons will rapidly contribute to the number of infections, and our current prison conditions will result in much higher mortality rates than seen elsewhere,” the CSOs say.

They therefore call on President Peter Mutharika to urgently exercise his prerogative powers under section 89(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi to pardon some convicted offenders or grant stays of execution of sentences, reduce sentences and remit sentences in order to reduce congestion in prison.

“Priority should be given to those that are terminally ill, older persons, persons with TB and other chronic illnesses and those who have served a substantial part of their sentences. We urge the President to prevent the detention in prison of all migrants who are detained on immigration-related charges.

“We further urge the President to release all prisoners who are serving time for minor offences including contempt of court, being idle and disorderly, being a rogue and vagabond, common nuisance and breach of peace,” says the statement.

The CSOs also request that the judiciary should urgently be provided with the necessary support to conduct emergency camp courts at prisons during the next two weeks to enable them to consider release with or without bail of those prisoners on remand whose period in detention has exceeded the prescribed pre-trial custody time limits, have spent excessively long periods in detention pending judgment or sentencing and all cases where there are numerous adjournments, and those charged with petty offences who have not been granted bail.

“The camp courts should pay specific attention to the release on bail of older persons, persons who are chronically ill and whose state of health is negatively affected by current conditions in prison and all women who are in detention with their children.

“We believe that prison health is public health and therefore, we cannot be fully prepared as a nation for the disease, if we do not deal with the risk that congestion poses to both the prison population and the broader community,” it reads.

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Fred
Fred
4 years ago

Dont just tell them of their rights but also tell them of other peoples rights. Otherwise when they are out they will start causing all sorts of nosense and people may have no choice

RECENTS
4 years ago

Release some and create space for Jane and company.

Sillica Gell
Sillica Gell
4 years ago

muzipanganso zimenezi inu ma CSOs, osamangolimbikila zijazi iya!

Gloria
Gloria
4 years ago

With all these men behind bars, No wonder most women are single and throw themselves at a single man.

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