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Two suspects remanded at Nchelenge state prison in Luapula Province have died after short illnesses.
The duo who were remanded at the Nchelenge State Prison died at Saint Paul’s Mission Hospital on Tuesday where they were hospitalized.
Luapula Province Police Commissioner Malcom Mulenga confirmed the development in a telephone interview with ZANIS in Nchelenge today.
Mr Mulenga identified the deceased as John Kasekabule, 48 of Chilindi village in Chief Puta’s area in Chienge District and Nelson Chilundu aged 57 of Chandwe village in chief Kambwali’s area.
He explained that Kasekabule was hospitalized on May 13, 2014 around 08: 00 hours and died 40 minutes later.
Mr Mulenga said Kasekabule, who died of diarrhoea, was at the time of his death facing the charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The Police Chief said the other inmate Chilundu was at the time of his death facing the charge of indecent assault on a female.
Mr Mulenga said Chilundu was admitted to the catholic run hospital on May 8, 2014 and died on Tuesday May 13, 2014 around 15: 00 hours of suspected Tuberculosis (TB).
He also said the relatives of the deceased have been notified accordingly and added that Chilundu’s body will be buried today by his family members.
Mr Mulenga has however stated that Kasekabule’s relatives are still waiting for further instructions from other family members in Chienge District before they put him to rest.
The death of the two suspects comes hardly a month after another two other suspects who were remanded at the Nchelenge State Prisons died of different ailments.
The reformatory institution with an establishment capacity of 11 inmates is now home to more than 150 people who spend nights standing because of acute shortage of bed space, posing a danger for an outbreak of communicable diseases.
It is sad that such inhumane conditions are still prevalent in the country. To make matters this happened before in the same prison. This talks to the levels of crime in the country….they are simply high and yet we are still relying prison structures that were built very many years ago. Loss of life under prison conditions speaks volumes about a slack and poor judicial system, which has always been questioned by many stakeholders. Let investigations bee conducted asap and thoroughly.