Govt gives deadline to Zambia Correctional Service for procurement of bunker beds for inmates

Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security Permanent Secretary, Joseph Akafumba, has directed the Zambia Correctional Service to procure bunker beds in all Correctional Centers before the end of 2024.

The Permanent Secretary re-reinforced President Hakainde Hichilema’s directive that no inmate should sleep on the floor.

Akafumba gave the directive through the Lusaka Regional Commanding Officer, Senior Assistant Commissioner Mulenga Nkondwa on Thursday.

The Permanent Secretary also made a spot check on the progress of works by the Mukuyu Ventures Limited who are constructing the Correctional Center that would house both Male and Female inmates in Mwembeshi area of Chilanga District.

“This was in line with the provision of humane custody of inmates as well as uphold human rights per United Nations (UN) Standard Minimum Rules on the treatment on offenders,” he stated.

Akafumba reiterated that the Zambia Correctional Service had moved away from retributive form of imprisonment to correctional.

He said this was done through skills training of inmates and also through the psycho-social and spiritual counselling and educational programmes offered to the offenders in custody.

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“With the foregoing, the Service ensures that inmates are humanely kept and maintained in all its prisons and correctional centers countrywide until they are lawfully discharged,” Akafumba stated.

During the tour of the facility, the contractor, through Nalish Kumar, reported that works had progressed to over 90 percent in terms of completion.

He said that the facility had 28 dormitories, each to house 52 inamates, eight classrooms, a library, a kitchen and two clinics to service both Officers and inmates separately.

“About 66 housing units for the Officers are also part of the Public Private Partnership agreement under which the project was affected,” Kumar disclosed.

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