Prisoner Abandoned at Mzuzu Central Hospital

By: Thula Chisamba

There was chaos at Mzuzu Central Hospital on Thursday when some prison authorities abandoned a dead body of an unknown prisoner.

Medics at the facility became more reluctant to take the body to a morgue because they had to seek clearance from the prison authorities.

When this publication followed up the story, it established that the prison guard, who was assigned to look after the deceased prisoner, abdicated owing to an unspecified reason.

“He came with the deceased for medical attention but before we could even attend to him, the guard had already moved away.

It is unethical to proceed with some processes without their clearance because the deceased was a prisoner,” said a nurse who attended to the prisoner.

Before this publication went to press Mzuzu prison publicist, Austine Mwasangwale confirmed that the remains of the deceased prisoner were yet to be taken to the morgue.

Nevertheless, Mwasangwale told our reporter that they will institute an investigation on the issue to establish the main facts.

“I can’t comment further today because it’s bad news but after we have established more details, we will come back to you,” he said.

Of late, prison authorities have portrayed some sorts of carelessness in the handling of the inmates.

This publication can establish that in December last year (2015) another prison guard freed an inmate who was sick at the same Mzuzu Central Hospital.

Barely some months later, two inmates escaped at Mzuzu prison farmland, while their guards were in deep slumber.

In reaction to the observation, Mwasangwale promised that authorities will work towards bringing sanity among prison guards.

“We’re aware of that and its our hope that sanity will be brought back among our guards,” he said.