SOUTHERN Province prisons commanding officer Costa Chiyota has advised warders against engaging in partisan politics and warned of grave consequencies against erring officers.

Mr Chiyota said the Prisons Service in Southern Province should not fall prey to political excitement but rather support the Government of the day.

He said this at the first ever combined Southern Province Prisons Service and Botswana Prisons annual ball held in Livingstone last Friday.

"We support the Government of the day and any officer politically aligned to partisan politics will be dealt with sternly," Mr Chiyota warned.

He commended Government for commencing rehabilitation of prisons.

Mr Chiyota said the Prisons service was also meeting the challenges of water by sinking more bore-holes.

The Prisons Service was also committed to expanding production of its agricultural produce and commended shops and members of the public that were buying from it.

"There is need for the Prisons Service to be self sustainable. Sustainable agriculture is our main focus and we want to be more responsible to the community we serve," Mr Chiyota said.

He commended Spar Mazabuka, Zambia Sugar plc, Barclays Bank, World Hope Foundation and Sun International for assisting in the improvement of standards of both inmates and Prisons Service officers.

Southern Province Permanent Secretary Darius Hakayobe urged the prisons service to continue investing in sustainable agriculture and that Government will assist the institution with a tractor and irrigation equipment.

In a speech read for him by Livingstone District Commissioner Francis Chika, Mr Hakayobe commended the Prisons Service for embarking on a programme to mould bricks for sale.

He urged officers to guard against HIV/AIDS.

Mr Hakayobe urged the officers to remain patriotic and refrain from engaging themselves in partisan politics.