‘Clear backlog of cases’
PRISONS Care and Counselling Association (PRISCA) has called for quick dispensation of justice to clear a backlog of the over 4000 inmates awaiting trial.
The correctional facilities, PRISCA said, were too congested that even increasing the number of bed space would not do much to help.
PRISCA Executive Director, Godfrey Malembeka, said out of over 21,000 inmates incarcerated in facilities with bed spaces meant for 11, 100 inmates, over 4000 were still waiting for their cases to be dispensed.
He was speaking in an interview with the Daily Nation in Ndola.
Mr Malembeka was reacting to a statement by acting Justice Minister Stephen Kampyongo who announced that Government would provide an additional 3000 bed space to the current 11,100 in correctional facilities by the end of this year.
The Minister said this at the official opening of the Lusaka High Court sessions.
Mr Malembeka said there was much more to be done in order to decongest correctional facilities in the country.
He however said Government's decision to increase bed-space was a noble one.
"It is a good start with the proposed bed spaces that will be provided to the inmates before the end of this year. However, more should be done as the proposed number of bed-space will not adequately address congestion," he said.
He noted that the issue of congestion and poor diet had been a major problem for years.
Mr Malembeka also called on Government to employ more judges and allow the country to achieve a high rate of disposal of cases.