Camp courts set to decongest prisons

Residents in Kasungu District have commended National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust for facilitating camp courts to speed up trial of suspects remanded in prisons and police custody.

Speaking after a camp court session presided over by Kasungu first grade magistrate Damiano Banda at Kasungu Prison, one of the residents Jennifer Nthara said it was  unconstitutional to detain suspects for months or years without trial.

“Unfortunately, those who suffer most are the poor who cannot afford to hire lawyers to represent them in court. These end up being forgotten by the justice system,” she said.

During the court session, Banda released on bail 10 suspects remanded at Kasungu Prison.

He also unconditionally freed a teenage boy accused of theft.

Without documents to determine his age, the boy was deemed to be over 18 years, but paralegal officers said primary age assessment is determined by the child himself or the parents.

Another suspect Madalitso Nyirongo, who is answering charges of burglary and theft, was granted bail after spending over 30 days on remand in prison.

Paralegal officers argued that remand warrant should not exceed 30 days and Nyirongo’s warrant expired some time back.

Kasungu Nice district civic education officer Gerald Chirwa said the camp court has helped suspects who allegedly committed minor offences to get out of remand through court bail.

“They will wait for hearing of their cases at the actual court. However, this has helped to decongest the prison,” he said.

Nice Trust is implementing Access to Justice Programme with support from the European Union.

The project seeks to speed up delivery of justice, especially for poor and vulnerable people.