Namusechi prison records low female in-mates
Chipata, March 11, 2013, ZANIS… Women in Chipata district in the eastern province are cheered by the reduction in the number of females incarcerated at Chipata prisons popularly known as Namusechi prison.
Eastern province women’s Club chairperson Pamela Chanda said that the number of women imprisoned at Namusechi prisoned has reduced from 25 last year to 17 in 2013.
She attributed the reduction of female inmates to the pardoning of several women by President Michael Sata .
Mrs Chanda told ZANIS that it had been a trend by her club to celebrate with women who are imprisoned at Chipata prison each year on women’s day.
She said that three out of the 17 women were breast feeding adding that there was need to pass minor sentences such as community sentences to mothers with low level offences.
‘’We are happy to note that the number for female inmates has reduced, last year we visited the prison we were not pleased to find 25 women and 10 of them had babies, we therefore commended government’’, she stated.
Mrs chanda stated that women should have simple sentences because the impact of imprisoned women do not only affect the women but also the family members and children.
She has however called on the Ministry of Health to ensure that women’s health care services are extended to female inmates.
ENDS/LM/CSB/ZANIS…………………………………DRY