A male Prison warder at Choma State Prison has been physically assaulted by angry prisoners during a protest.
The prisoners were protesting over the continued delay for them to appear in a magistrates court on various charges.
Both prison and police sources confirmed the incident which happened on Wednesday to ZANIS in Choma today and described the situation as unfortunate.
According to prison sources, the prisoners turned violent upon hearing that they could not be taken to court because the magistrate handling their cases had not traveled from Lusaka.
The incident happened when police and Drug Enforcement Commission officers went to the prison to collect suspects for the court session.
It was at this point that the affected prisoners demanded to be taken to court so that they could lodge their complaint about their prolonged detention.
The suspects then descended on one prison warder, pinning him down on the ground before severely beating him up.
Most of the suspects that turned violent have spent about two years in remand prison without court appearance.
The cases for affected suspected are being handled by Lusaka chief resident magistrate Charles Kafunda who was then Choma senior resident magistrate before his transfer to the capital.
Prison sources told ZANIS that the assaulted warder has since treated for wounds, but expressed grave concern at the security situation for warders at the Prison.
ZANIS/CM/ENDS/SJK
Hopefully attacks will not spread to chimbokaila
I hear you inmates, you are considered innocent until found guilty, therefore, you have a right to fair justice…however, resorting to violence does not help the situation…how about demanding to meet relevant authorities to lodge your complaints?
What is the worse thing that can happen to them? Throw them in jail? Afterall they are already serving jail without a sentence without their day in court. Dude, two years is a long time to be in jail in zed.
good job prisoners! its very unfair for people stay behind bars 4 years without apearing before any magistrate. our govenment should really do something about this, it may even help d.conjest prisons coz some remandees are innocent. good work guys!
Are you sure IWE the prisoners did a good job by beating up a warder? That was barbaric. Yes our Judicial system has hiccups and the conditions of our prisons are deplorable to say the least but there are better ways of addressing grievances by our dear remandees – and not beating up a poor prison warder tasked just to look after them. What if the victim of this “beating” was your relative, were you still going to applaud your friends for a job well done. Empathy in all situations is important before we comment “bane”.
I can understand the frustration of the prisoners having to spend more time in inhumane conditions. However their behaviour is inexcusable. It is sad that a prison warden had to pay for the poor management of our judicial system.
two years in prison without being tried is barbaric on the part of government.government should quickly take the prisoners to court to avoid another severe beating of an inncent warder.
It’s so sad that our government’s concern is not seen at all on most people that are detained without trial almost in every town Prison………….let Justice privail.
Justice delayed is justice denied. These prople languish because of backlog of cases and mere lazines by the justice system, adjourning cases day in day out. not fair at all!!!
So things havent changed,they still detain people for years with out trial,sad i remember when they detained me at chelstone police for 2 weeks without charge,whats wrong with the zambian gvnts,for years this still continues,i think there is no justice in our country,people have then the right to give themselves freedom of justice when they get it,if you detain me for 3 years without trial,i will be mad even at a chef in the prison kitchen,since i cant get close to president banda,the man who is the CEO of the country
I just hope that that prisoner warder is not one of my friends whi i belive was working there. I strongly condem such behaviour. As much as the law has been unjust to them they should have done that. All What should happen its give the guys a fair trail. First the cases should now be heard as they have shown to the country that the have been treated unfairly. Now after they solve that case they should now get to the case they have just committed-assualt against the warder in his uniform representing government and security.Justice should prevail on that one.They cant feel pity for them after serving ther sentence which they will have for assualt.people cant just take the law into their hands
As a person that spent unfair time in Kamwala Remand Prison on tramped charges I say, “WELL DONE Choma inmates,” in fact it should spread so that the thick heads in government or so called government can take the message.Zambia is a Satanic nation.Despite having a small population,Zambia has some of the most overcrowded and inhumane prisons in the world.Those of you on this blog who think the inmates were wrong have never been to a Zambian prison.It is rotting HELL!!
Only the poor Zambian feels the terrble and ruthlessness of our horrible and unjust justice system.Even on this blog there is no freedom of speech.Lusaka Times are so scared of the government that they sensor our postings.
Why is my comment waiting moderation?? Answer me!!
YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN!!
Have been following Lusaka Times and have concluded that this site is pro-Government. Why is it that only stories that are pro GRZ are posted on this site.Why dont you so called Lusaka times also get stories from the private media.
I.otLusaka times is useless in terms of news.