The Ministry of Home Affairs has clarified that the law that empowers inmates with a two weeklong leave to visit their families has been in existence since 1965.
Home Affairs Permanent Secretary Masiye Banda says government’s desire is to have a prison service where human rights for inmates are respected.
Mr. Banda says government means well for inmates and the safety of the general public adding that it will do everything possible to ensure that the safety of its citizens remains a priority.
He adds that contrary to what was reported in some sections of the media, the objectives of the signed act include repealing and replacing the prison act of 1965 among others.
Mr. Banda says the Zambian Correctional Service Bill of 2021 will now strengthen the operations of the service and give effect to the paradigm shift from being a punitive institution to a correctional system.
He has further clarified that the clause of giving licenses to prisoners serving life sentences has always been in the statutes but despite being provided for, none of the Commissioners of the service has ever invoked the act.
Mr. Banda adds that the provision has been added to the new Correctional Service Act and its application shall still remain the discretion of the Commissioner General.
He has since advised members of the public to familiarize themselves with the Correctional Service Act and appreciate its reformatory objectives.
Meanwhile, Mr. Banda says the ministry and the correction service are saddened by the alleged barbaric act by inmates Joseph Chiteta and Miles Malaya, who were moved to Mukobeko Medium Prison after having served part of their long sentences at Mukobeko Maximum Prison.
He says the suspects escaped from Kabwe Medium Security Correctional Centre’s Mukuyu Correctional Farm on April 7th 2021 after committing nine murder cases and was recaptured on May 23rd after 46 days at large on the Copperbelt.
Mr. Banda says the Zambia Police Service are investigating the matter and shall ensure that no stone is left unturned.
The problem with our opposition political parties is that they always half asleep and behind schedule. The moment the discussion on allowing inmates to vote , they should have gone to the provisions of the consititution . When we were debating bill 10 they should have considered amending this provision of holiday. But they were just focusing on ECL .. not knowing there were a lot more punches that can be used to knock them out.
NOTHING UNUSUAL CRIME IS ALREADY HERE AND WILL ONLY GET WORSE
ALSO HOW MANY WILL RETURN ???
ANY THOUGHT FOR THE VICTIMS OF THESE CRIMES THAT WERE COMMITTED AGAINST THEM ???
MURDER, RAPE, ETC ETC
THIS GOVERNMENT DOESNT CARE ABOUT THAT >>> ITS ALL ABOUT GETTING A FEW MORE VOTES
POWER MUST BE SWEET AT THE TOP TO IGNORE SANITY OVER ONES POCKET
So what are you strengthening exactly? Keep 1965 mwamene because we have had no problems with it. The new one stinks of used socks and spent politicians.
The PF should be very careful because one day in future they will find themselves at the receiving end like UNIP and MMD because they will not rule this country forever. Well the PS Masiye Banda said that this piece of law has been in existence since 1965 but why have the previous regimes ignored to implement it all along. I remember one former Commissioner General vowing that he will never allow Prisoners have partner visitations to have conjugal rights. Firstly the Correctioner Service should have started with allowing inmates conjugal rights and see how it will work out. Why has the Ministry of Home Affairs in a hurry to implement so many things within a short time. Why the hurry when elections are around the corner or should we speculate that our leaders are fast tracking prison…
Will the Zambian prisoners who will be allowed to go on 2 weeks leave going to be wearing GPS monitoring bracelet that tracks the wearer’s location at all times.
Ankle monitors are electronic devices equipped with GPS technology. They’re strapped around your ankle and can’t be removed by the wearer. The tamper-proof bracelets must be worn for as long as the judge orders. These devices use radio frequency signals to communicate back to a monitoring station. They may be programmed to allow wearers to roam freely within a certain perimeter, and alert the monitoring station if the wearer goes outside of that area.
When defendants try to tamper with ankle monitors, these devices send a signal to the law enforcement agencies monitoring them that may eventually lead to an arrest. OR WILL…
…….OR WILL THEY BE ROAMING AROUND FREELY WITHOUT BEING MONITORED? SEEMS TO ME THAT THEY WLL BE USED TO SACRIFICE FRESH BLOOD FOR THE PF , IF LEFT TO ROAM AROUND FREE!
There is a lot of ignorance within the upnd camp. So hh and his party who think they are ready to rule Zambia dont even know our laws as a country. Chlpuba HH
Ba KZ ************kwabafye imbwa shekasheka.
If it has been there from 1965 and
We have had no problems then why try to change it now?After
This incident we suppose to stop
Inmates to have this privilege.
The only thing that is new here is voting by inmates, courtesy of PRISCCA.
It’s unfortunate that while prison reforms are underway, prison malpractices have overtaken good gestures
Imagine, committing crimes before being locked up; perpetrating misdeeds in prison farm walls; breaking open “prison concrete” with more offences as fugitives for 1½ months! Some possessed inmates should never see freedom at all
Kaiser Zulu don’t bring politics into this issue when families have lost their beloved ones.
Where in the world have you seen Prisoners going on leave and what does HH have to do with this.
Power will one day not be yours be in 2021, 2026 you will be answerble
Its ironic he is concerned with human rights of inmates when they are cramped in there without water and relieve themselves in buckets
Mavis tembo – Dont waste your energy on a UK based Troll/ Impostor sanctioned by LT all it wants is to annoy you for its amazement and distract you from the article.
Wake up!!
S H U T up K-z
Blog on your pf website .. where you may get some thumbs up
this is no place for dummies like you
Can the families of those that were murdered by the prisoners who were supposed to be monitored all the times sue the state immediately for very huge sums of compensation such that this inept govt will feel it. May the HRC and other international bodies be notified of this legal suit. There goes more money out of Zambian coffers to compensate these families. The two prisoners please let them be Killlled too and the officers at Mukobeko and the medium prison must all be fired.
Masiye Banda himself looks like a convict, onani kalukobo! These chaps are just trying to prepare themselves for jail soon after the elections and want to make sure that they have time to come out and fratenise with their girlfriends. Kunya, it will not happen. Prison means punishment, finito
I smell a rat here. What is the aim and goal of the president to releasing prisoners at this awkward time and period of elections when all in the past has never dreamed off and shared with the nation?
Suppose a prisoner commits a serious offence eg, kills someone when that prisoner is already charged by the courts of law, who will bear that consequence?
Let those with lighter punishment be released from prison completely as a form of decongesting the prison and scot free those whom the president feel can be seen out under his jurisdictions than questions created in the citizens of Zambia. I also feel this as a danger to the public. Its like realizing a harmful hallucinated dog with rabbis and once it bites someone then you condemn it saying this what the dog has done is un acceptable…
Let those with lighter punishment be released from prisons completely as a form of decongesting the prison and scot free those whom the president feel can be seen out under his jurisdictions than questions created in the citizens of Zambia.
I also feel this as a danger to the public. Its like releasing a harmful hallucinated dog with rabbis and once it bites someone and dies, then you condemn it saying ” what the dog has done is un acceptable and needs to be killed and yet you knew it deep down your heart while a life is already lost.
If the law has been in existence since 1965 there must have been good reason for all governments since that time not to follow it. What had changed now that the current government is adamant on making it a public issue? Oh I forgot prisoners now have a right to vote so it will used as a dangling carrot to get the prisoners’ votes.
Kwena ba PF are desperate to hold on to power at all costs. This is the first time I have ever heard of any government in the world give prisoners a two week break to visit their respective families. This is desperation at its best, why invoke the act now that has been there for as long as Zambia has been a republic. Since 1965, we’ve had 6 Presidents including the incumbent ECL. None of the 5 presidents ever wanted to repeal such an act. HH will be the best ever leader because he is a hard worker a graduate and a very successful businessman so what else you need? Vote HH. Chapwa bane. Ubu ebupuba plus plus plus plus Zambia my Zambia wake up fimo ifintu kushila Lesa Mukulu. Ba PF banyanya….niku wire!!!