Replace punitive prison act - Lungu
P ESIDENT Edgar Lungu has directed Ministers of Home Affairs and ustice Steven Kampyongo and iven Lubinda to replace the current Prisons Act ith the ne Correctional Service Act to meet aspirations of Zambians.
President Lungu said the current act is centred on punitive approach rendering it more retributive than rehabilitating offenders.
The President notes that the current approach hardens offenders and increases the rate of escapes and the tendency of convicted criminals to relapse into criminal behaviour.
President Lungu said this in Kaoma when he commissioned 941 Zambia Correctional Services officers first intake at Nyango Correctional Training College yesterday.
And President Lungu said the biggest intake ever to pass out under the correctional services underscored government’s vision of transforming prisons service into a correctional service.
“The Patriotic Front manifesto stresses the need to transform the Zambia prisons service into the Zambia Correctional Service. It is anchored on the PF’s strong belief in human dignity regardless of one’s social,” said President Lungu.
He said the transformation responds to the modern management of offenders through increased staffing levels in various facilities across the country.
Meanwhile the President has urged the Zambia Correctional Service command to ensure service is transformed into a financially viable and self-sustaining institution.
He noted that if the huge pool of skilled human resource is well utilised, it would help reduce dependence on the treasury.
The First intake of the Zambia Correctional Services officers comprising of 941 were yesterday commissioned at Nyango correctional staff training college in Kaoma.
This is the first intake to be commissioned at the Nyango correctional training college after the facility was relocated from headquarters in kabwe.
During the training 3 recruits died whilst 2 others were dismissed.
Nyango training facility was handed to the Zambia government in 2005 by the government of the republic of Namibia which SWAPO used as a training ground until 1990. Speaking earlier Home Affairs Minister Steven Kampyongo said the officer where equipped with first hand skills to help utilise resource within the service.