Inmates appeal for electoral information

Zomba Central and Mikuyu I prison inmates have asked government and other stakeholders to provide them with radios and newspapers to enable them follow electoral processes ahead of the May 21 2019 Tripartite Elections.

The inmates made the appeal on Thursday and Friday in the district during a voter registration civic education campaign the National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust held at the two facilities.

Mikuyu I Prison officer in-charge senior superintendent Risted Beston Mabeti said the appeals are genuine as inmates have little or no access to voter and civic education.

“Through radios and newspapers, inmates will be able to make informed decisions on who to vote for,” he said.

The inmates further proposed that aspiring parliamentarians and councillors, whose constituents are within the prisons jurisdictions, should make their manifestos and presence available to inmates.

In response, Nice Zomba district civic education officer Albertina Zidana said the trust will supply the inmates with newspapers as it does not have radios at the moment.

She urged the inmates to register to vote when phase six of voter registration starts in Zomba on Wednesday.