Zomba Maximum Prison faces Water Crisis-Prisoners

Reports are showing that Zomba Maximum Prison is operating without water for over two weeks now.

According to one of the inmates at the prison who pleaded for anonymity the authorities are failing to buy water from Southern Region Water Board (SRWB) because government is not providing them adequate funds.

He said if the situation is not looked into as an urgent matter lives of prisoners are in danger because they are prone to waterborne diseases

The inmate who is serving a life imprisonment after being convicted of murder said the water crisis has also put in danger people on TB and ART treatment.

However, Malawi Prison Services have dismissed the report saying the facility has adequate sources of water.

Eastern Region Prison Public Relations Officer, Jonas Nyasulu, said apart from water provided by SRWB, Zomba prison has a borehole and solar powered water system which provides water all the time.

Nyasulu said Prison authorities understand importance of having water so they cannot deny the inmates their right to access water.

Zomba Maximum prison is the largest prison in the country