The Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) yesterday went to Maula Prison in Lilongwe to investigate claims of deaths from hunger and food shortages.
During the visit, the commission said it established that food storage facilities at the prison were empty and that the available maize would not take the inmates through the festive period.
The commission also confirmed reports that the facility’s 2 223 inmates, who include remandees, went without food from Friday to Sunday last week and were surviving on meals from visiting relations or well-wishers such as the Catholic Women’s Organisation of the Maula Deanery and the faithful from the Anglican community.
MHRC deputy director for economic, social and cultural rights Harry Migochi led the investigation. He told The Nation preliminary findings indicated that no deaths had taken place as a result of the food shortages.
In an interview yesterday, Migochi said he interviewed the leadership of Maula Prison, that included the officer-in-charge, the station officer and disciplinary officer, but also several inmates to get to the bottom of the matter.
He said the only death reported at the prison was two weeks ago when an inmate on tuberculosis treatment and antiretroviral therapy died after refusing to take medication.
Said Migochi: “I interviewed the prisoners who corroborated the situation. But the inmates had gone without food from Friday to Sunday and up to now there is no maize in the storage.”
The food shortage has been exacerbated by lack of fuel for Malawi Prison Service vehicles which are used to ferry firewood for cooking.
The commission also said it discovered that the challenges were a result of erratic funding to the facility.
“The State has to take primary responsibility to take care of these people. We are asking government to increase funding and fund the prisons on time so that the situation does not get worse,” said Migochi.
Funding to many government departments was recently reduced, which has affected service delivery in critical areas such as the health and education sectors.
Malawi Prisons spokesperson Evance Phiri attributed the food shortage to delays in supplying to the prisons, but he was hopeful that inmates would have food from tomorrow.
“We are negotiating with Admarc to supply enough for all prisons, We are looking for 5 000 bags at least,” he said.
But Phiri would not comment on reports of erratic funding to prisons.
The Nation also learnt that since the prison has not able to take inmates to hospitals for medical attention, the African Bible College (ABC) Community Clinic has been ferrying and treating sick inmates at its facility in Area 47 in the past two days.
