THE Zambia Prisons Service says it has never come across incidences of sodomy in prisons, contrary to claims by former convict Sishekano Lubinda that the vice is rampant, especially in the condemned section at Mukobeko Maximum Prison.
Acting Commissioner of Prisons Frederick Chilukutu has since described Mr Lubinda’s revelation as out of context.
Mr Chilukutu wondered why Mr Lubinda did not bring issues of sodomy to the attention of prison authorities while he was still in jail.
“We have released many prisoners from that section and no-one has ever said that this thing happens in the context that he [Mr Lubinda] has put it,” Mr Chilukutu told the Sunday Mail in an interview yesterday.
“One wonders why he chose to go to the media because when he was in prison he did not tell us,” he said.
On Thursday, Mr Lubinda disclosed that he had first-hand encounters with sodomites during the eight years he was in prison for robbery before former President Rupiah Banda pardoned him in 2011.
But Mr Chilukutu said: “Why was he not bold enough to explain to us …as authorities we have not come across that knowledge or discovery in a manner that he has put it,” he said.
He said the Prisons Service only becomes aware of such incidences through research papers showing indicators that the vice is happening behind bars.
“But to hear it directly from him sounds out of context. He is an individual who was in prison and may have had his own experiences but he never reported to us,” he said.
Mr Lubinda said on Radio Phoenix’s ‘face the media’ programme that his first encounter with sodomites was at Lusaka Central Prison, where some in-mates took advantage of the congestion in the cells and were having romps in the still of the night but some of them were caught by their colleagues who did not take kindly to the act.
“Because of the congestion, in a cell meant for 30 people there are 70 or even 100 people; so some in-mates would agree to do it and come and sleep close to each others. But when they were caught in the middle of the night, there was a lot of noise because some of them would want to beat the perpetrators while other would want to rescue them,” he said.
He said even at the dreaded Penal Block, an isolated prison from the main jail arena, acts of sodomy are rampant because the block houses convicts serving longer sentences.
He said after being convicted and sentenced to death, he was taken to the condemned section, where he found that the rampancy of the act was even higher.
“I believe this is because of history of the condemned section. When someone is sent there, in the previous administrations they were executed at one time and it was perceived that once you go in as a condemned prisoner, there will be no coming back. So it is done at a rampant rate because even now people believe that they will not come out, so it is done to ease sexual desires,” he said.
Mr Lubinda said when he got there, he found a ‘couple’ that had been together for 17 years and one of them was acting like a woman because he was even perming his hair, using make-up, and adopted major feminine characteristics like walking and talking.
Face reality, bwana officer. If such vices are rampart in open society among homosexual and lesbian practitioners, what more in confined institutions such as prisons?
What are those things taking pictures on phones? That culture of phone pictures in Zambia is very nonsensical and stupidity. What are they going to use that for?
Prison uniform, the need to get the Zebra type.
‘rampant’ supposed to be.
By the way, prison uniform’s colour: is it the USA type African governments seem to be emulating? Discarded the white one from the colonials?
sodomy and lesbian practices are alive and well in all Zambian prisons.
Denying the existence, perennial practice and engagement in such immoral acts by prisoners is like burying your head in the sand bwana
Carry out a research and u will find out the trueth. Maybe u intimidate the prisoners, and don’t give them protection and as such they don’t tell u the trueth. It might also be that there is an oath among the prison that they should tell the trueth on the happenings inside the prisons.
The fact that he didnt report to you does not invalidate his claims bwana mukubwa. Sad world isnt it?
The prison service is under funded and poorly resourced therefore such things can happen and they can never know
Homosexuality takes place inside and
outside of prison. Denying it is pointless.
Just give condoms to inmates so they
have safe sex.
Chilukutu do you expect a prisoner in Zambia to come to you about any problems and you listen, my foot
He is right. No homosexuality in prison. Just sodomy, buttsex, debasing, inhuman behaviour, cornholing, filth basing rusty tromboning slipping through the backdoor, taking it up the ass…etc, etc, but no homosexuality, no sir!!
Sounds you know alot about that idiocracy… I can also tell you 23 names of marijuna.
Homo sexuality is something which happens in the absence of prioson warders. Just like bullying in prison cells it is rampant and the prison service has either denied its existence or intimidate the victims for their failure to curb it. The acting commissioner is defensive of the vice most likely he a homo sexual himself or he is protecting his job, a very stupid thing to.
Chilukutu you must be a very dull officer to claim that you are not aware of this vice in prisons. In fact you are supposed to be fired for publicly exhibiting your incompetence. I wonder how the welfare of prisoners will improve with people like you at the helm of the Institution. You such a pathetic failure. Sad.
Bwana Officer Sir, absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.The fact that you Mr. Chilukutu as authorities you have not come across such let alone have knowledge about it does not mean the sordid acts are not happening.
Why embark on a needless defense when you can look at the issue objectively and address it effectively? Some explanations, Bwana, might just expose as you as paranoid.
Wish you well though.
Very clever that absence thing you’ve made up!
They stopped calling it homosexuality because they started supplying the guys with Vaseline!
Yeah I have just hard gay with some asian guy but we agreed to
Ofcourse used protection. Prisoners should be allowed to if both agree to
.No rape.
Gives a newmeaning to “prisoner of love” lol
Buttsex is common. The Official
could be a closet homosexual.
Come on Mr Chilukutu, do you Honestly think these prisoner’s, are going to report to you, something that is illegal, & against the law in Zambia. I guess there’s only one way to find out. Since you don’t believe Bo Lubinda, wanna spend a few nights in that Prison Mukobeko??
Feminine characteristics like walking and talking??? hahahahaha
Seriously though it takes place in most prisons in most countries, the Acting Commissioner should take a moment to accept reality
Like ive said on the original story I was in Chimbokaila for 2 months and “yochitila pa munyelo was a popular thing especially among convicted prisoners. This prison chief knows it. I wonder why he wants to deny it. And ba elotee stop moderating me forever ala! Ukutumpa!
Every comment I have made has under gone moderation. Mwaya sana
The same way the officer is denyin it that’s the sAme way the government is denying it exists in zambia. People these Days are too brave to take a step to the wild side. Deny it or not its here to stAy and. Its called human evolution
You burry your head in the sand and the whole body is outside…thats this Chilukutu fellow!
Why is Chilukutu so defensive over the issue? I have relatives who have served prison sentences and have spoken about these issues. He should be using the opportunity to seek more Government assistance to decongest the prisons rather than denying that there is a problem. Chilukutu’s reaction is like he has personally been accused of practicing sodomy.
“OUT OF CONTEST” ????????????????????????????????????????