By HOPE BWALYA –

EUROPEAN Union (EU) head of mission, Gilles Hervio has reaffirmed his organisation’s commitment to support prisons in Zambia.
He said prison services were a priority as there was a lot to improve on regarding the livelihood of inmates.
Mr Hervio was speaking during the donation by the Ambassadors Club and High Commissioners and Prisons Care and Counseling Association (PRISCA) to the Lusaka Central Prison.
He said life in prison was a challenge and as such the club and other organisations that had prisoners’ interest at heart came together to ease the living conditions of the inmates.
“We are helping other organisations to support prisons as life in prison is not easy especially for mothers with infants,” he said.
PRISCCA director Godfrey Malembeka said the donation was made with the hope to supplement Government’s efforts regarding prisons.
Dr Malembeka said this gesture was a sign that people still cared about the prisoners’ welfare.
“This donation is a sign that people have accepted us and have started seeing us as fellow human beings,” he said.
Dr Malembeka who is a former inmate appealed to the Government to pump in more funds to build more infrastructure in order to decongest prison cells.
Meanwhile, Lusaka regional commanding officer Christopher Kajimbala said it was encouraging to see the community donating to the people who have been in confinement.
“We appreciate the assorted items of donations you have given to the inmates to improve their welfare,” he said.
He also appealed to the donors to continue to support the inmates in acquiring training skills.