JB visists Maula Prisons, inmates ask for pardon
Inmates at Maula prison in Lilongwe have appealed to President Joyce Banda to consider pardoning some of prisoners who are serving jail on petty issue to reduce the overcrowding.
Banda cheered the inmates on Friday as the country’s first sitting head of state to visit Maula prison.
A representative of the prisoners Gift Theu, convicted for armed robbery, asked President Banda to exercise her Constitution powers to pardon some prisoners.
Theu also complained of starvation of the inmates as they are fed one meal a day.
Acting Commissioner of Prisons, Kennedy Nkhoma said the facility is facing problems following budget cuts to the Malawi Prisons.
The President gave out a donation of items worthy over K4 million.
She has since encouraged relatives of prisoners to make time and visit their relations in prison.
Maula Prison is facing conditions of overcrowding, poor sanitation, and other factors making inmates vulnerable to contagious diseases like TB, diarrhoea and scabies.
President Banda said her government would not subject prisoners to additional torture and degrading treatment.
Two months ago President Banda also visited the facility to cheer UDF MP for Machinga Atupele Muluzi who was on remand after the late Bingu wa Mutharika administration arrested him
Banda, who was virtually opposition figure was harassed by prison official when she visited Atupele, but was given VIP treatment this time around as Head of State wand also Atupele was accorded good treatment as Minister of Economic Planning.
