Mwembeshi correctional facilities construction on track
HOME Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo is impressed with the rate at which the construction of two correctional facilities in Mwembeshi area is moving.
Speaking during a tour of the two ultra-modern facilities in Mwembeshi yesterday, Mr Kampyongo said government was in a hurry to have the two correctional facilities completed. The correctional facilities are being built in two separate sites in the area.
Mr Kampyongo said the new facilities would help ease congestion as inmates from Kamwala remind Prison and Lusaka Central Prison popularly known as Chimbokaila would quickly be moved to the new facilities once completed.
Mr Kampyongo said Government had re-affirmed its determination to improve the conditions of correctional facilities across the country.
Mr Kampyongo said the project, a joint venture with Mukuyu Venture Limited, would help decongest the existing facilities.
The minister said President Edgar Lungu was keen to resolve this problem following the increase of inmates in outdated facilities.
Mr Kampyongo said the new facilities would be of modern standards and help drastically shift from punitive way of managing offenders to the correctional services mode.
“I am very happy with the progress recorded which is quite remarkable and I am calling upon all stakeholders to come on board so that the project is not delayed. I will be waiting for the contractor and our engineers on site to provide a schedule on the works and when the facilities will be handed over to Government.
“It is not just the change of name, but to see the real transformation of the former prisons into correctional service which depended on the environment and people that are managing them,” said Mr Kampyongo.
Meanwhile Mukuyu Venture Limited director Anderson Kasokomona said the project would have been completed earlier but stalled because the rock formation and excess water had made it difficult to progress.
Mr Kasokomona said the project would be handed over to Government in November this year.