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Multi – million kwacha Luwingu Prison opened
Kasama, August, 30th, 2014, ZANIS— Government has officially opened Luwingu prison in Northern Province which has been built at a cost of Over K 4.8 million.
And Commissioner of Prisons Percy Chato commended government for funding the construction of Luwingu prison which will help to de-congest other prison facilities in Northern Province.
Home Affairs Minister Dr. Ngosa Simbyakula said this when he graced the opening ceremony held within the prison premise yesterday.
Provincial Minister Freedom Sikazwe, senior government officials, representatives of civil society organizations other than members of the general public were on hand to witness the opening of the prison.
And Dr. Simbyakula said the problem of congestion in prisons needs practical solutions in order to protect the welfare of inmates.
The minister said it is for this reason that government has made provisions for the construction of new prisons and rehabilitating existing facilities in order to increase reduce overcrowding in prison cells.
Dr. Simbyakula disclosed that the PF Government has increased funding to the Prison Service and that K22million has been allocated in this 2014 budget towards the improvement of infrastructure of prison facilities across the country.
He noted that government is aware of the challenges that the Prison service but is doing everything possible to enable the institution meet its mandate of custodial and correctional services.
And speaking at the same function, Commissioner of Prisons Percy Chato commended government for funding the construction of Luwingu prison which will help to de-congest other prison facilities in Northern Province.
Mr. Chato said most of the prison facilities are congested and this fact denies the prison service the opportunity to offer humane custodial and correctional services to inmates in line with the modern global trends of Prison management.
Meanwhile, Northern Province Minister Freedom Sikazwe has appealed to the ministry of Home Affairs to equip prison officers with reliable transport and other resources to enable them do their work efficiently.
The construction of Luwingu prison started in 2010 and Government engaged local contractors to carry the capital project.
