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Mukobeko Maximum Security Prison: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox prison | |||
| prison_name = Mukobeko Maximum Security Prison | |||
| image = Mukobeko Prison in Kabwe.jpg | |||
| caption = | |||
| location = [[Kabwe]] | |||
| coordinates = | |||
| status = Operational | |||
| classification = | |||
| capacity = | |||
| population = | |||
| populationdate = | |||
| opened = 1978 | |||
| closed = | |||
| former_name = | |||
| managed_by = [[Zambia Prison Service]] | |||
| director = | |||
| governor = | |||
| warden = | |||
| street-address = | |||
| city = | |||
| county = | |||
| state = | |||
| postcode = | |||
| zip = | |||
| country = [[Zambia]] | |||
| website = | |||
| prisoners = | |||
}} | |||
'''Mukobeko Prison''' (or '''Mukobeko Maximum Security Prison''', '''Mukobeko State Prison''') is a maximum security prison in [[Kabwe]] where prisoners sentenced to death are held.<ref>[http://www.deathpenaltyworldwide.org/country-search-post.cfm?country=zambia#f5-2 Death Penalty Database], 20 July 2015</ref> The prison was built in 1978. | |||
During | ==Executions== | ||
When a judge in a high court pronounces a death sentence, convicts are sent to Mukobeko. The prisoners are executed by hanging in an event that a President signs their death warrants. During their tenures, President [[Levy Mwanawasa]], [[Rupiah Banda]] and [[Michael Sata]] did not sign any death warrants.<ref name=zadama>[https://www.daily-mail.co.zm/?p=38745 From deathrow to life: 322 prisoners saved from noose] ''[[Zambia Daily Mail]]'', 2 August 2015</ref> | |||
==Living conditions== | ==Living conditions== | ||
Zambian presidents who came after [[Kenneth Kaunda]] had refused to sign death sentences for prisoners, leading to overcrowding and poor sanitary conditions.<ref name=ar/> | Zambian presidents who came after [[Kenneth Kaunda]] had refused to sign death sentences for prisoners, leading to overcrowding and poor sanitary conditions. Human rights activists say the congestion was caused by the slow dispensation of justice.<ref name=ar/> | ||
In March 2013, 600 prisoners were transferred to the new facility at [[Mwembeshi Maximum Prison]] under heavy and tight security by the [[Zambia Police Service]], [[Zambia Army]], [[Zambia Air Force]] and the [[Zambia Prison Service]].<ref>[https://www.lusakatimes.com/2013/03/10/600-prisoners-from-mukobeko-prison-moved-to-mwembeshi-maximum-prison/ 600 prisoners from Mukobeko Prison moved to Mwembeshi Maximum prison] ''[[LusakaTimes]], 10 March 2013</ref> This was in a bid decongest the prison and to improve the welfare of those incarcerated. | |||
On January 24, 1997, 8 prisoners were executed on the same day that President [[Frederick Chiluba]] pardoned 600 inmates. Seven of the prisoners had been convicted of murder, and the eighth had been convicted of murder and armed robbery.<ref>[http://www.hrw.org/reports/1997/07/01/human-rights-zambia-1996-elections Human Rights in Zambia since the 1996 elections, Ch. V The Death Penalty], Human Rights Watch, 1 July 1997</ref> | |||
The male condemned section of the prison was built to accommodate a maximum of 48 inmates but over the years, the number has swelled to 332.<ref name=zadama/> | |||
==Pardon of prisoners== | |||
During a visit of the prison on 16 July 2015, President [[Edgar Lungu]] commuted death sentences of all 332 inmates to life imprisonment.<ref name=ar>[http://www.africareview.com/News/Zambian-president-spares-death-row-inmates/-/979180/2792474/-/dokxai/-/index.html Zambian president spares 332 death row inmates] Africa Review, 17 July 2015</ref> The president also officially opened the new Central Mechanical Workshop at Mukobeko to help in the servicing of Zambia Prisons Service vehicles and those for the [[Ministry of Home Affairs]].<ref name=znbc>[http://www.znbc.co.zm/?p=16859 Lungu opens Mukobeko workshop], [[ZNBC]], 16 July 2015</ref> | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{Reflist}} | {{Reflist}} | ||
[[Category:Prisons in Zambia]] | |||
[[Category:Law enforcement in Zambia]] | |||
[[Category:Kabwe]] | |||
[[Category:1978 establishments]] | |||
