.Matani

By NAKUBIANA SHABONGO? –

PRISON Fellowship says it is keen to improve conditions in Prisons in developing countries, to eliminate diseases.
Prisons Fellowship Zambia chairperson, Rajan Mahtani, who is Finance Bank chairperson, said the Prison Fellowship wanted to improve living conditions in prisons, especially in developing countries where Tuberculosis and HIV were rife.
Dr Mahtani was speaking during a dinner hosted in honour of the founding president of the Prison Fellowship International in Lusaka at the weekend.
Dr Mahtani also said many people in prisons had their lives transformed from a danger to society into being agents of change.
He said the fellowship would rescue vulnerable children of prisoners and restore hope to inmates through Christian outreach programmes.
‘‘The Prisons Fellowship International had increased its membership from five founding countries to 127. So Far, 45,000 people have signed up as volunteers to help prisoners around the world.
‘‘These volunteers working hand-in-hand with the prison chaplains, have seen many whose lives have been transformed from being a danger to society into being agents of change,’’ Dr Mahtani said.
Prison Fellowship International president, Gordon Loux was happy with how Zambia had been committed to ensuring that inmates were reformed by the time they rejoined society.
Home Affairs Deputy Minister, Nickson Chilangwa said President Sata was doing a lot to improve the welfare of prisoners around the country and that he needed to be supported.?‘‘This has been a week of fulfillment to profile the welfare of prisoners.
Two days ago, we had a successful meeting with regard to prerogative of mercy. The President means well and he will be pardoning some prisoners during the jubilee celebrations,’’ he said.?Commissioner of Prisons Percy Chato said Zambia Prisons Service, in collaboration with Prisons Fellowship and stakeholders, aimed at enhancing collective efforts to overcome historical and inherent challenges including HIV in prisons.
He said the Zambia Prisons Service would fully engage the Church and faith-based organisations to transform the penal institution into character rehabilitation centres.
Mr Chato said this would be done through increased reformation programmes and activities and creation of an enabling environment through imparting Christian values in prisons and prison staff.