The Zambia Prisons Service (ZPS) in Luanshya has commenced cleaning up of all public health centers in the district in commemoration of the Prisons Service week.
Luanshya Prisons Officer Commanding Steven Nyendwa says most public health centers and their surroundings were neglected as the institutions lack adequate manpower to do the required manual work .
ZANIS reports that Mr. Nyendwa who confirmed the development in an interview today said that the exercise started on Tuesday this week.
He said the exercise started with three clinics including Chibolya, Mikonfwa, Urban clinic and Thomson hospital in Luanshya constituency.
“ The exercise will tomorrow spread to Roan General hospital and all clinics in Roan constituency, “ he said .
In addition, a combined team of prison officers and inmates were also cleaning up Luanshya town cemetery and cutting down old trees, which were a danger to mourners seeking shelter as they put their loved ones to rest, he said.
Mr. Nyendwa noted that the prisons service week was significant as it helps the service reflect on their performance and services rendered to the community away from their usual custodial role.
He called on the community to take keen interest in understanding the role the prison service plays and make us of the services offered to the community from skills training offered to inmates, such as brick molding, gardening, fencing and aquaculture aside of the usual agricultural services.
And Luanshya Municipal council Public Relation Manager Gideon Thole has welcomed the move by the service to clean the cemetery.
Mr. Thole said his council was ready to partner with any organisation wishing to help in ensuring that mourners put their loved ones to rest in a dignified and habitable place.
He noted that though it was the local authority’s mandate to maintain the graveyard, the council appreciated the gesture and would support any form of assistance from well wishing partners.
The prisons service will tomorrow celebrate the Prison Service day at Mukobeko Prisons in Kabwe were all prisons would showcase their goods and services in a colourful exhibition.
This used to be humanism time. Schools used to clean markets, hospitals and homes for old people. It’s normal period
Kikikiki I hope President Kambwili will not attack prisoners for helping him. Ati healthy centers are neglected. Hope M’membe take advantage of this wonderful initiatives by abakaili.
This work should not only be done to commemorate Prisons Day or whatever, It should be done as part of the hard labour sentence for the prisoners. All government institutions, hospitals, public parks (if any) etc., should be given a spik and span cleanup every month. This won’t cost the government anything, in fact saves them costs of hiring fake cleaning companies.
This is when prisoners will work even harder instead of enjoying some reprieve.