By NAKUBIANA MUMBUNA –

INMATES at Lusaka and Mwembeshi prisons have rejected the proposal to distribute condoms in prisons and have instead called for the introduction of behavioural change programmes among prisoners.

At Mwenbeshi Prison, the inmates said sodomy was against societal values, hence the need to implement programmes to help change the behaviour of the minority prisoners who practiced the vice.

Recently, inmates at Kamfinsa State Prison in Kitwe also rejected condoms, saying making them available in prisons would promote sodomy.

Commissioner of Prisons Percy Chato, who confirmed the development, has since called on all stakeholders to determine the course of action with regard to condom distribution in prisons.

Mr Chato also said there was need for continued research on the subject as there was a lot of speculation concerning the issue.

“The doors are open for stakeholders to conduct more research on HIV/AIDS in prisons,” Mr Chato said.

Meanwhile, Mr Chato said the Zambia Prisons Service would continue to enforce the law in accordance with the Penal Code and the Prisons Act.

“Any act against the order of nature is punishable and so we will continue to enforce the law because our duty is to protect any individual in our custody,” he said.

On Christmas Day, two remandees at Lusaka Prison were caught by follow inmates having sex and reported the matter to the authorities.

Police spokesperson Charity Munganga-Chanda confirmed the incident and said that police had instituted investigations.