Malawi prison chaplains crucial for inmate counseling, officials say
The gathering highlighted the importance of spiritual and psychological support in Malawi's correctional facilities, aiming to improve inmate well-being and rehabilitation efforts.
BLANTYRE, Malawi — The national prison chaplain for the Malawi Prison Service, emphasized the need for well-coordinated prison chaplaincy to provide proper counseling for inmates, writes Gift Kaimira.
Speaking on the sidelines of a three-day chaplains' conference in Blantyre on Thursday, Senior Superintendent Brian Kondowe noted that many prisoners experience depression after sentencing.
"Prison chaplains play a critical role in monitoring the psychological effects on inmates serving various sentences," Kondowe said.
The conference, held at HHI, brought together participants from various security agencies, including the Malawi Prison Service, Malawi Defence Force, and faith leaders from the Blantyre Synod Church chaplains.
Dr. King Kinang, president of the International Center for Peace and Reconciliation in Abuja, Nigeria, urged prison chaplains to understand inmate behavior while on duty.
"Some inmates turn violent while in custody, and some commit suicide. Hence, there's a need for prison chaplains to offer proper spiritual counseling," Kinang said.
The gathering highlighted the importance of spiritual and psychological support in Malawi's correctional facilities, aiming to improve inmate well-being and rehabilitation efforts.