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——Government says it has allowed the progression in the advanced certificate training program among prisons staff because it is concerned with the low staffing levels that are currently prevailing in the service around the country.
Officiating at the solemn pass-out parade of 628 cadets and recruits of the Cadet and Recruit Course number 1 of 2012 in Kabwe, deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Alfreda Kansembe, said the move would mean more man power for prisons and more jobs for the Zambian people, especially the youth.
Ms Kansembe said government realizes that civil servants have not been performing to the expected levels mainly due to low salaries, the reason why it has decided to improve conditions of service and salaries that will be effected in September this year where the lowest paid will be getting KR3,000.
She said government was taking a step further to construct over 12,000 housing units for all its departments to ensure habitable and low cost accommodation among public service workers.
Ms Kansembe said government was responsible for bettering the lives of citizens through the provision of social services, and that it was in that same vein that it also decided to cut subsidies so that Zambians may benefit through capital projects.
She urged all civil servants to change their attitudes towards work if government was to achieve its goal towards improving the lives of the Zambian people.
The Home Affairs deputy minister appealed to both the serving officers and to those who passed out to pay attention to their duty and procedure in order to avoid the unfortunate incidences of escapes and allegations of mistreatment of inmates.
Speaking at the same occasion, Commissioner for prisons, Percy Chato, said the pass-out parade was the most unique that Zambia Prisons Service had ever handled as it was the largest group ever hosted by the prisons staff training college.
Mr Chato said the intake was a new creation which came as a result of government’s resolve to increase the prison staff establishment from the current 1,800 of uniformed officers to 5,000 in a period of five years in a bid to cushion the workforce shortages being experienced in prisons.
Mr Chato said the college has graduated officers who would effectively and efficiently provide and maintain humane custodial and correctional services to inmates.
He also said the staff will increase industrial and agricultural production in order to contribute to the wellbeing and reform of inmates, and the maintenance of internal security of the country.
And earlier in his welcoming remarks, Staff College deputy Commissioner, Tobias Mwanza, said the pass-out cadet and recruit intake 1 of 2012 was the first to undertake an advanced certificate program which offers courses in various prison studies disciplines such as criminal justice and administration, human rights, constitutional and basic law.
Mr Mwanza said other courses include, criminal psychology, theories of punishment, criminal procedures, correctional ethics, and communication skills among others.
Among the dignitaries who attended the pass-out parade were the Prisons commissioners from the five countries of Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbambwe, Namibia, and Swiziland.
