MDC-T legislator Jessie Majome has called on the government to take concrete and urgent steps to avert a "brewing humanitarian crisis" in the country's prisons. Majome made the call on Tuesday after justice ministry and prison officials revealed that at least 100 inmates have died this year at the country's 55 facilities.The deaths were poor nutrition-related, according to Virginia Mabhiza and Agrey Machingauta, from the justice ministry and prisons services. The two officials told the parliamentary portfolio committee that the country's prisons were experiencing serious food shortages because they were not receiving enough money to source food for the 18,460 prisoners. They told parliamentarians that although $1.2 million was required monthly for food for the prisoners, only $300,000 was being allocated. As a result, prisoners were no longer receiving the required three meals a day, a situation which had led to nutrition-related illnesses and deaths.
Pray: that the authorities will have compassion on the prisoners and provide necessary food. (Ps.116:5)