By Isaac Salima:
President Lazarus Chakwera has bemoaned the tendency of public servants in disregarding the law and set procedures.
He said this practice is responsible for the struggles of the Malawi Prison Services (MPS), warders and inmates.
Chakwera said this Friday at Prison Staff Training School at Mapanga in Blantyre when he presided over the passing out parade of prison officers.
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“Over the past four years, I have received complaints and advice on various pressing issues that require attention but I do not remember anyone telling me about the welfare of prisoners in our correctional facilities.
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“This is a sign of less attention that is put in our prisons because we do not recognise their importance,” Chakwera said.
He said prison warders are crucial in managing prisoners but rarely are their concerns addressed.
He said prisons are places where inmates are taught the need to respect the law.
“But our lack of interest with their operations only affirms our disregard of following the stipulated laws. One thing that continues affecting the country’s development is our deliberate choice to ignore the law.
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“If we continue taking this direction we will also continue taking slow steps in achieving our development goals,” he said.
Chakwera further said the tendency of disregarding the law tarnishes the image of the country.
“In most of the things that we accuse the government of failing, you may find out that it may not necessarily be the government that is to blame but our way of doing things especially when it comes to following the law,” he said.
Chakwera gave an example of an existing land wrangle in Nkhata Bay where the court ruled that the land belongs to Malawi Defence Force (MDF) but people continue selling and using the land.
Minister of Homeland Security Ezekiel Ching’oma said the government is working at finalising the Prisons Bill which will guide in improving operations of the MPS.
“Prisons in Malawi and abroad have been focusing on security and punishment aspects neglecting correctional activities and human rights issues. Today the facilities have a change in focus with the institutions setting out correctional service goals,” he said.
Ching’oma further said the government has steadily pursued the Prison Bill with the aim of improving service delivery.
MPS Commissioner General Masauko Wiscot said operation of the institution are also hindered by lack of proper infrastructure.
“Our structures are very old and in dilapidated state. The school falls short of our ambitious plans to upgrade our programmes to that of a college,” he said.
The ceremony saw 985 recruits graduating after completing a nine-month-long training on managing and controlling prisoners.
