The LRF Newsletter

Clement Tafeni, a lawyer, who has been put in charge of the programme, said they have visited thirteen prisoners with various offences at Livingstone State Prison on various dates between July and August 2000. Tafeni said the work of LRF is to offer advice and assistance to the prisoners. He said that so far they have assisted 3 prisoners who were committed to the High Court to stand trial for murder on 6th July 1997 but have not set foot in the High Court to-date. The foundation is prepared to apply for a Writ of Habeas Corpus to have the court secure their liberty.

Expressing his delight Mabvuto Sakala, an intern assigned to work in Lusaka prisons, supported Mr. Tafeni.

He said that their work is mainly to help prisoners, both foreigners and Zambians. They help those who have suffered the bitter fruits of detention for a long period of time without being taken to court.

“The work of the LRF is to help these people get out of detention by carrying out serious investigations,” he noted.

Mr. Sakala said the Foundation tries hard to find out at what stage each case has reached in order to speed it up.

He said that since its inception they have visited 137 inmates from Kamwala, Chainama East, Lusaka Central, and Mukobeko Maximum prisons.

Out of 137 prisoners nine have been released on Habeas Corpus application and 12 unconditionally. Eleven refugees have also been released as a result of the LRF efforts and have been sent to their respective refugee camps. Five prohibited immigrants from different countries have been deported. A total of 37 prisoners have been released as a result of the LRF’s Prisons Programme.

Sakala felt sorry for the detained Zambians who are not being taken to court because they may have positive things to contribute to the country.

Two refugees from Kamwala Prison said that conditions in prisons are very bad. Prisons are congested such that the prisoners have no space for sleeping. “We spend our nights in a sitting position due to lack of space for us to lie down”, said one of the prisoners.

Another prisoner complained that they are beaten in the prison by their friends .He added that there are diseases in the prison such as chicken pox. He has appealed to the LRF to continue working hard and has commended the Foundation for initiating a programme which has helped a lot of prisoners to be released.