Foreign inmates cost government E20 250 a day

MANZINI – There are currently 135 foreigners serving in the country’s prisons and they cost the taxpayer about E20 000 a day. 

Some of these prisoners are from as far as Nigeria, the Correctional Services PRO, Bongani Khumalo said in an interview. Each prisoner costs government E150 day and Khumalo said such expenses covered food, electricity, water, medical attention and uniform worn by inmates.
With 135 inmates, it translates to E20 250 a day.

He said the number was made up of those who had already been convicted and were serving sentences as well as those still waiting for commencement of their trials.
He said the foreign inmates came from countries such as South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Malawi, to name a few.

“Only one person arrived in our facilities since the beginning of August, 2013. The rest have been doing time in the correctional facilities as at July 31, 2013.
“We compile monthly reports of the country’s centres to determine how many new inmates we have received and have completed their sentences or have been released,” Khumalo said.

Asked on the general behaviour of foreign inmates and treatment by locals, Khumalo said such was governed by the Prisons Act. He said every new inmate before being accepted into a facility, appeared before an Admissions Board.
He said the Admissions Board was made up of the officer in charge, nurse, psychologist and social worker and they explain what is expected of them and decide the proper place to allocate them. He also explained that inmates may commit crimes while inside the facilities but they are prosecuted internally.

“If inmates are found guilty, they may lose their remission. There have been no xenophobic attacks inside the correctional facilities of the country,” Khumalo said.
Among the inmates is Amos Mbedzi, who was convicted for attempting to bomb the Lozitha Bridge on September 20, 2008. He was sentenced to 85 years for five charges.

The Correctional Services PRO said common crimes linked to foreign inmates were murder, armed robbery and contravening the Immigration and Pharmacy Acts among other crimes.

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