HRC inspections reveal poor conditions in prisons

Posted Nov 07, 2011

The Human Rights Commission conducted inspections of prisons and police cells in Lusaka Province between 13th September and 19th October 2011.

The Commission was carrying out its statutory mandate under Section 9(d) of the Human Rights Commission Act No. 39 of 1996, to visit prisons and places of detention or related facilities with a view to assessing and inspecting conditions of the persons held in such places and make recommendations to redress existing problems.

The Commission noted with concern several problems related the poor conditions in prisons and police cells in Lusaka Province, which need urgent attention by the authorities to improve the human rights standards of the persons held in such facilities and that of the prisons and police officers.

The Commission found both the prisons and police stations were lacking in meeting the minimum standards for the protection of the rights of the persons under detention or imprisonment.

Some suspects and inmates who were interviewed reported of being ill-treated or tortured by named officers while others told the Commission they were denied contact with their families and relatives, among other allegations of human rights violations.

Prisons and police officers also told the Commission they faced many challenges, living and working under difficult conditions. This forced many of them to make personal sacrifices and efforts to cope with the difficult conditions they were living and working in.

The Commission will soon share its findings and recommendations of the Lusaka prisons and police cells inspections with the public in its continued effort to improve conditions in places of detention in the country.