By Chisomo Phiri
The Centre for Human Rights Advice and Assistance (CHREAA) has asked President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera to pardon female inmates that have children in prisons, as part of Mothers’ Day celebrations.
In a letter, CHREAA Executive Director(ED) Victor Mhango,says it is impressed with the progress that the president has made in reducing sentences and pardoning prisoners over the last few months.
He says the high office has demonstrated willingness to enhance the rights of prisoners in Malawi.
Mhango, however, says he would like to bring to the attention of the president the plight of mothers, who are primary caregivers and are incarcerated in the prisons, some with their children and some who have left their young children with no care outside the prisons.
“It is no secret that the prison situation is not conducive for prisoners, let alone children.
“The prisons are characterized by severe congestion, water shortages, poor sanitation, poor ventilation and food shortages which are affecting the children currently in prison with their mothers.
“Due to the living situation, some of the children are suffering from recurring malnutrition and others illnesses that have continuously been transmitted to them within the prison,”says Mhango in a statement.
He adds that Mother’s Day pardon will not only be a gift to the mothers, but also signify the importance of the national holiday in honouring mothers in Malawi.
The Malawi Prisons Service estimates that there are currently between 15 000 and 16 000 inmates in the country’s prisons against a holding capacity of 5 000 prisoners. Of this figure, female inmates constitute 1.1 percent.
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