Stakeholders Demand Enacting of New Prison Bill
An estimated 80 percent of prisoners are eligible for release but cannot be due to current legislation.
LILONGWE, Malawi- The Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC), the Centre for Human Rights Education, Advice and Assistance (CHREAA) and the Irish Rule of Law have raised concerns over the government's lack of commitment to discuss a new prison law, despite past promises to bring the bill before parliament, writes Martha Nakhate.
On Feb. 17, President Lazarus Chakwera said during his State of the Nation Address, "In the new fiscal year, we are reviewing and bringing forward the prison services bill to create the Parole system for releasing prisoners before they complete their sentences."
However, despite the president's remarks, there appears to be no progress on the bill.
"Take the issue to heart," Peter Chisi, MHRC's director for civil and political rights, told parliamentarians, urging them to push the Ministry of Homeland Security to table the bill in parliament.
Clifford Msiska, national director for the Paralegal Advisory Service Institute (PASI), said they are pushing for the new bill because the current Prison Act of 1956 was enacted under colonial rule and does not incorporate rehabilitation principles.
He also said the bill would help reduce the number of prisoners, currently at 16,000 against a recommended capacity of 7,000.
Msiska added that the law would ensure prisoners enjoy their human rights.
An estimated 80 percent of prisoners are eligible for release but cannot be due to current legislation, he said.
Speaking on behalf of parliamentarians, Savel Kafwafwa of the parliamentary committee on social and community affairs, said the government has been pushing for the bill to be tabled since 2023.