NGO takes Malawi govt  to court  over prison 3 meals a day

Centre for Human Rights Education and Advice (Chrea) says it is going to court to force the government give prisoners three meals a day following a Supreme Court ruling of 2009.

Chrea executive director Victor Mhango said a three judge panel in 2009 ruled that the Prisons Department should start giving inmates three meals a day instead of the present one meal a day scenario.

The ruling followed prisoner Trevor Masangano’s successful suit against the Prisons Department and the ministry of Home Affairs. Masangano was serving a 12-year-old prison sentence.

“It is unfortunate that 12 years after the ruling, prisoners continue to suffer, they continue to have one meal a day. This must stop,” said Mhango.

Prisons spokesperson Emmanuel Shumba refused to comment on the matter.

But Law Society of Malawi secretary Alfred Majamanda said the ruling was not mandatory because the court involved parliament which was not part of the proceedings.

The court ordered parliament to ensure all financial resources are given to the Prisons Department.