Zomba Central Prison is a referral national prison in Malawi. It is the biggest prison in Malawi. In January 2024, the prison was moved to Lilongwe.[1][2][3]
 | |
| Location | Zomba, Malawi |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 15°23′13″S 35°19′09″E / 15.38694°S 35.31917°E |
| Status | Operational |
| Security class | Maximum (male and female) |
| Capacity | 340 |
| Opened | January 1935 |
| Managed by | Malawi Prison Service |
History
editFormation
editZomba Central Prison was built in 1935 during the British colonial era in Malawi (then known as Nyasaland). It was designed to hold 340 prisoners and was intended to serve as a maximum-security facility for the country.[3][4]
Facilities
editThe prison has six cell blocks, including:
- One for juvenile offenders
- One for first offenders
- Two for recurrent offenders
- One for women
- One for condemned prisoners
The prison also has facilities for prisoners to work and receive training, such as a workshop, a farm, and a tailoring shop.[3][5]
Zomba Prison Project
editThe prison is the location of the musical collaboration Zomba Prison Project, a 20-track compilation produced by Ian Brennan and his wife Italian photographer Marilena Umuhoza Delli and released in 2015 by Six Degrees Records featuring recordings of compositions and performances by inmates at the prison.[6] The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best World Music Album, the first ever Grammy nomination by Malawian artists.[7]
Brennan and Delli, returned to the prison twice more in 2016 to compile a second album titled I Will Not Stop Singing.[8]
Notable inmates
editSome notable inmates who have been held at Zomba Central Prison include:
- Hastings Kamuzu Banda, the first President of Malawi, who was imprisoned by the British colonial authorities in 1959
- Orton Chirwa, a politician and lawyer who was imprisoned for his opposition to Banda's government
- Gwanda Chakuamba, a politician and opposition leader who was imprisoned for his political activities
Challenges
editThe prison has faced numerous challenges, including overcrowding, poor sanitation, and inadequate food and medical care for prisoners. In recent years, there have been efforts to improve conditions and reduce overcrowding, but the prison remains one of the most notorious in Malawi.[3]
References
edit- ^ The Prison System in Malawi: An Insider's Account" by M. A. Phiri (2017)
- ^ Malawi's Prison System: A Review of the Literature" by J. K. M. Mhone (2007)
- ^ a b c d https://www.mps.gov.mw/sites/default/files/2020-09/Malawi%20Prisons%20Service%20History.pdf
- ^ Prisons and Prisoners in Malawi: A Human Rights Perspective" by C. M. M. Chirambo (2009)
- ^ Prison Reform in Malawi: A Study of Zomba Central Prison" by F. M. Chisi (2015)
- ^ Kozinn, Allan (3 December 2014). "Songs Sung From a Prison in Malawi". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ^ Kreps, Daniel (19 December 2025). "Malawi Prisoners Score Surprise Grammy Nomination". Rolling Stones. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ^ "I will not stop singing". Bandcamp. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
