Women’s Caucus Takes Prisoners’ Concerns to Parliament After Kachere Visit

The Women’s Caucus of Parliament on Wednesday visited female inmates at Kachere Prison in Lilongwe, donating assorted items worth K5 million and listening to challenges affecting women and children at the facility.

The parliamentarians toured the prison’s kitchen, hostels and training facilities, where female inmates are trained in salon and tailoring skills.

Prison Officer-in-Charge Maureen Timverane said the facility currently houses 84 female inmates, comprising both convicted prisoners and those on remand.

She said the prison also accommodates foreign nationals, including one Mozambican and two South Africans, one of whom is convicted while the other is on remand.

Timverane further said six children are living at the prison with their inmate mothers.

“We offer nursery education to the children because some of them are born here. They are now able to understand and use English words. We also provide primary and secondary education to female inmates,” she said.

Inmates Raise Transport, Water and Overcrowding Concerns

One of the inmates, Maria Chimimba, said overcrowding and inadequate transport were among the major challenges facing women at the prison.

She also complained of verbal abuse from vendors when inmates are transported in open vehicles to hospitals.

Chimimba urged the government to provide a closed vehicle for transporting inmates to protect them from public ridicule and abuse.

She further said children living with their mothers in prison face challenges, particularly because of their exposure to language and an environment that may not be suitable for their age.

“We also have a challenge of water scarcity at the prison, and we need the government to consider providing water for us. We also need a television so that we can follow current affairs in our country because we live as though we are not part of this country without knowing what is going on,” Chimimba said.

She also commended President Arthur Peter Mutharika for pardoning some inmates and reducing the sentences of others by 12 months.

Remandees Appeal for Faster Court Cases

Meanwhile, Agnes Katengeza, who represented inmates on remand, urged the government to expedite court cases involving accused persons so that those found guilty can be convicted while those found not guilty can be released.

She said some women have remained on remand for as long as eight years without being sentenced.

“We have some women who have been on remand for eight years without being sentenced,” Katengeza said.

Women’s Caucus Promises to Follow Up

Women’s Caucus Chairperson Mary Maulidi Khembo assured the inmates that the committee had heard their concerns and would assess how best they could be addressed.

She said some of the cases raised require legal intervention, noting that some prisoners cannot afford to hire lawyers.

Khembo also commended prison officials for maintaining hygiene and sanitation at the facility.

Among the items donated by the female parliamentarians were boxes of soap and fabrics valued at K5 million.

Meanwhile, Lilongwe City Bwaila Parliamentarian Precious Kabambe commended the Women’s Caucus for visiting the constituency and listening to the concerns of the inmates.

She said the concerns raised would be followed up as part of Parliament’s oversight role.