Food crisis hits Mzuzu Prison due to overcrowding

Hunger has rocked Mzuzu Prison in the Northern Region of Malawi as inmates are going up to two days without food due to overcrowding.

The situation has been triggered due to the rise in the number of those who are on remand, notably 300 illegal immigrants who have been at the correctional facility for close to 7 months, awaiting deportation.

However, Public Relations Officer for Northern Region Prison Austin Masangwale has said that the officers are on the ground searching for maize which has ran out.

The situation worsened on Monday, as inmates were fed cassava with beans.

Meanwhile, Mzuzu Prison is now  holding 1,100 inmates against its holding capacity of 800