By SYLVIA MWEETWA –

MUKOBEKO Maximum Prison in Kabwe is using four electric pots instead of the required 20 to prepare meals for more than 2,000 inmates incarcerated at the facility.
This has forced prison authorities to delay locking up the inmates, from the recommended 16:00 hours to between 21:00 and 22:00 hours.
Mukobeko Prisons officer-in-charge, Hastings Chilombe said problems as a result of delayed meals was posing a security risk.
Mr Chilombe said this during a tour of the prison by Home Affairs Minister Davies Mwila in Kabwe yesterday.
Mr Chilombe said the prison needed the required number of pots to meet the growing number of prisoners and ensure they had three meals a day as per requirement.
He said the situation worsened, especially when a power outage was experienced and appealed for assistance to address the myriad of challenges facing the prison.
“We are happy that you (Mr Mwila) came to see how we are running the affairs of this facility but we want to bring to your attention that the prison only has four pots to cook for more than 2,000 inmates. To manage the three meals, we are forced to lock the inmates between 21 and 22:00 hours which is a security threat instead of 16:00 hours,” he said.
Mr Mwila said the situation was unacceptable but assured that Government would help to address the concerns raised.
He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to improving the operations of the Prisons Service.
“Just be assured that your Government is committed and will look into these problems you are facing, it might not be overnight but something is being done to improve the situation,” he said.