Juveniles An Issue For Zambian Prisons
State Prison officer-in-charge, Patrick Nawa has expressed concern over the detention of juveniles facing various bailable offences in Zambia.
Mr Nawa said he had noted with regret that a lot of juveniles were languishing in prison when they were facing bailable offences. He said it was sad that juveniles were in prison when they were facing bailable offences and wondered why they had not been released on bail or police bonds. He said this in the Kitwe High Court yesterday during the opening of criminal sessions before Judge Catherine Makungu. Mr Nawa said he was concerned that Chingola prison had 16 juveniles facing bailable offences but were remanded in custody.
He said Copperbelt Province had 3,253 inmates with Kamfinsa prison having the highest with 1,522 inmates followed by Chingola prison with 411 inmates, Kansenshi with 358 inmates. Others are Luanshya prison with 323 inmates, Ndola remand prison with 252, Mufulira, 247 inmates with Chondwe prison having the lowest with 214 inmates. He described the situation at the prisons in the regions as calm with enough food stocks and that sick inmates were being taken care of.
Justice Makungu said she had also noted that there were a number of juveniles especially at Chingola prison who were facing various bailable offences but were still in prison. She said she would work with the judiciary and other relevant authorities to ensure that the juveniles facing bailable offences were helped. Justice Makungu said she was happy that the prison had enough food and that the situation at the prison was calm.
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