Mangochi Magistrates move court session to Prison

In a move to decongest Mangochi Prison, the Station Authority on Wednesday brought three Magistrates to the prison, to consider bail applications for inmates who were charged with minor offences, as well as those who have stayed on remand for a long time without being taken to court.

Speaking before the Court Session, Officer in Charge for Mangochi Prison, Senior Superintendent Denis Luka, said overcrowding was one of the challenges that was currently facing, hence putting intense pressure on their limited resources.

He said that despite the prison being designed to hold about 100 inmates, it is currently holding triple that number.

“Mangochi Prison was designed to hold 105 inmates but currently it is holding around 400 prisoners, and most of them are on remand, as a result, due to congestion, we have had so many diseases, such as pink eye,” Luka disclosed.

He said bringing a court session to the prison would serve as a solution, in order to ensure that prisoner cases are promptly addressed.

Following the court session, 12 prisoners were discharged, six were given bail, and two were fined.

In his remarks, Davie Wyson, who spent nine months on remand for a theft of a motorcycle case, and has now been discharged, applauded Mangochi Prison for the Court Sessions, saying the initiative would help to reduce the number of people who are on remand waiting for their trial.

The three magistrates who presided over the cases included Senior Resident Magistrate Muhammad Maxwell Chande, First Grade Magistrate Roy Kakutu, and Second Grade Magistrate Baxton Chikalimba.

Magistrate Chande, expressed gratitude for the initiative, saying it was an eye opener that would help ensure people get justice in time.

“This is a good initiative and a wakeup call for everyone involved in the justice system,” he noted.