THE State has entered a nolle prosequi in a matter in which Mukobeko Prison School Commanding Officer Tobias Mwanza was taken to court over poor sanitation at the institution.

When the matter came up for commencement of trial yesterday before Kabwe Principal Resident Magistrate John Mbuzi, State prosecutor Susan Mwakalombe applied to the court to discontinue the case.

She told the court that the State had received instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to discontinue the case.

Mr Mwanza had been taken to court on two counts of failure to provide adequate and clean sanitary

facilities, thereby subjecting students to conditions which are dangerous and injurious to their health.

In the second count, he was alleged to have failed to comply with a notice to abet the nuisance contrary to the laws of the land.

Mr Mwanza had pleaded not guilty to the counts.

Recently the provincial health team in Kabwe threatened to close the training institution following failure by the command to improve sanitary conditions.

And some Kabwe-based Prison warders expressed shock with the DPP's move to enter a nolle prosequi in the matter.

Theysaid health personnel should not be blamed in the event of any outbreak of diseases.