Malawi Legal Aid and Malawi Law Commission have emphasised the importance for inmates to know their rights to ensure they acquire legal representation to access fair trial.
On Wednesday, Malawi Legal Aid and Malawi Law Commission conducted a legal clinic for inmates at Nsanje Prison aimed at raising awareness on their rights, duties and the country’s laws.
Speaking during the awareness, principal legal aid advocate Tionge Penama said it was essential for inmates to understand their legal rights and responsibilities.
She said Malawi Legal Aid is mandated to provide the public with legal advice, representation and civic education.
“We are mandated to do three things—provide legal advice to the public, offer legal representation and conduct civic education. That is why we decided to engage inmates to raise awareness of the country’s laws,” said Penama.
She added that convicted inmates need to understand their rights while those on remand should be aware that they can seek legal representation.
“We expect inmates in different prisons to be aware of their rights,” said Penama.
Malawi Law Commission deputy director of law reform Peter Mota said the engagements provide an opportunity to gather views on laws that require reform.
“The new Prison Act is intended to address several challenges faced by inmates and align the prison system with human rights standards,” he said.
On prison congestion, Mota said the proposed Prison Act includes mechanisms aimed at decongesting prisons, such as the introduction of safe houses, halfway houses, house stations and parallel sentencing systems.
Stonard Anthony, an inmate on remand for three years on suspicion of murder, said the clinic helped him understand his rights.
He said he learned that he has the right to access fair trial in court.
Nsanje Prison spokesperson Chifuniro Mukhuna said the prison, which has a capacity of 120 inmates, is currently housing 287 inmates
An inmate making a presentation during the meeting. I Martin Gela Jnr
