The Zambia Prisons Commissioner has disclosed that 12 Malawian nationals, currently serving their sentences in Zambia will be transferred back to their country, while 13 Zambian nationals will come back home and serve the remainder of their sentences.
Commissioner, Percy Chato said this when he paid a courtesy call on the Eastern Province Permanent Secretary in Chipata today.
Mr Chato said Zambia and Malawi need to enhance corporation in various sectors and share the best practices.
He noted that the two sister countries entered into this mutual agreement on 29th September, 2009 in Kabwe by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on reformation programs, training and transfer of prisoners among others.
Mr Chato explained that the MOU encompasses programs such as social, spiritual and education working together as a simple strategy to achieve certain goals.
Speaking at the same event, Eastern province PS Hlobopha Nkunika observed that even after crossing the Malawi border into Zambia, there is no significant change in the geographical and social conditions for the prisoners.
Mr Nkunika said this situation speaks volumes over the long history of cordial relations that the two countries have cultivated and continued to harness.
He observed that it gives the Zambian government much encouragement and stands ready to adopt and domesticate international instruments and setting up regional mechanisms that foster improved welfare of prison inmates.
Mr Nkunika explained that the ceremonious event that has just been witnessed is truth of the resolution of the Joint Permanent Commission meetings between the two governments that led to the two Prisons Services drafting the MOU on reformation programs.
He noted that the ceremony is a practical testimony of the commitment between the two governments to lead the other member states in the region towards the paradigm shift in the management of prisons.
Mr Nkunika urged the Malawian and Zambian citizens who served various sentences in the two countries to serve the remaining sentences in their home countries.
Meanwhile, Malawian Acting Chief Commissioner Kennedy Nkhoma, appealed to the prisoners not to be over zealous to the point of abusing the opportunity they have been accorded to serve in their countries of origin.
Mr Nkhoma said the inaugural exchange of prisoners will enhance good practices between the two countries and improve social integration of offenders who committed criminal offences.
ZANIS
Hello Lusaka Times, Kindly use the correct Malawian Flag thank you. We are now the country of the risen sun not the rising sun..Â
Say again? Lol…. screw u and your illuminati eye flag
G
@1, LT is correct (strange, huh?). In May, Malawi MPs voted to restore the rising sun flag and replace the (deeply unpopular) full sun one introduced by the late President, Bingu wa Mutharika.
That said….. LT should have written “swap” not “swarp” (…… unless maybe these prisoners are from Swarp Spinning?)
Good move Chato.
BRING THEM HOME AND LILIZ THEM
Thanks to chikopa for bringin the 2 nations together. I hear he is still at pamozi kumawa hotel
We hope the prisoners before they are discharged the community together with Government can develop continued programs aimed supporting the Ex -Prisoners others wise there will be a threat to the community. In Kitwe, we are experiencing people in uniforms who are killing and injury people at night. Who knows some maybe ex-prisoners who are not doing anything.
Actually lets exchange all zambian prisoners to serve their sentences in Malawi and vice versa, but the title is abit misleading i thot it meant exactly what i have written
Ba Lusaka Times, you don’t check your spellings…WHAT IN THE WORLD IS SWARP???