6 May 2009
THE Human Rights Commission (HRC) has expressed concern at the continued illegal detention of suspects in police cells and congestion in prisons.
The commission has since called for an immediate end to the practice.
But inspector general of police, Francis Kabonde said in reaction that he had received complaints regarding such detentions and had constituted a team to go round police stations to check on the situation.
Mr Kabonde said in an interview that any police officer found to be detaining suspects illegally would be disciplined.
HRC director, Enoch Mulembe said the commission was concerned about the illegal detention of suspects in most parts of the country and appealed to the police to find ways of resolving the problem.
Mr Mulembe in an interview in Lusaka yesterday said most police cells were over-crowded because some suspects had been kept longer that necessary without charges.
He called for upholding of the rule of law and respect for the rights of suspects, and reaffirmed that the commission would continue to advocate for suspects' rights.
On the congestion in prison cells, Mr Mulembe said there was need to address the problem.
"Although the Government has been working hard to decongest the prisons by expanding Mwembeshi open-air prison, there is still more that needs to be done to address these concerns," he said.
Mr Mulembe said there was need to address problems faced by inmates such as poor sanitation, lack of water and poor diet.
He said the Government should address transport, communication, housing and other important requirements for prison officers to help them perform their duties diligently.
And ZANIS reports that deputy prisons commanding officer in North-Western Province, Robert Katawa has said that delays by subordinate courts to dispose off cases has caused congestion in all prisons in the province.
Mr Katawa said this when he delivered his report on the state of prisons during the official opening of the criminal High Court session in North-Western Province led by Kitwe-based High Court Judge Catherine Makungu in Solwezi yesterday.
He said congestion in prisons was due to an increased number of prisoners against cell capacities.
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