Mozambique: Overcrowding in prisons – Construction of ten detention centres planned

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Mozambique: Overcrowding in prisons – Construction of ten detention centres planned

2:55 CAT | 17 Mar 2025

File photo: Noticias

The justice sector will be able to improve the management of the prison population with the start of construction of ten penitentiaries this year, with a view to reducing the overcrowding that characterises prisons in almost the entire country.

In fact, the Ministry of Justice, Constitutional and Religious Affairs (MIJACR) has already approved the project, signed contracts with contractors, and has the approval of the Administrative Court, but the financial provision that may come from the approval of the State Budget (OE) for this year by Parliament is still pending.

The information was shared on Friday by Mateus Saize, Minister of Justice, Constitutional and Religious Affairs, at the Justice Fair commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Institute of Legal Assistance and Sponsorship (IPAJ).

He noted that after the State Budget is approved by the National Assembly, the works will be able to begin and construction will be carried out in phases, with two provincial prisons to be built each year.

The provinces of Inhambane, in the district of Jangamo, and Sofala, in Dondo, could be the first to benefit from the project.

“The idea is to build the penitentiaries outside urban centres so that we have spaces where inmates can carry out productive activities, in order to reduce the costs of their maintenance and help with their reintegration when they leave prison,” he said.

The expansion of infrastructure comes at a time when the prison system has more than 150 units with capacity for around eight thousand inmates. Official data indicate that the prison population grew by around 18,000 in 2020 to over 23,000 in 2023, and is currently estimated to be close to 25,000, above its capacity.

In addition to the construction of penitentiaries, he highlighted that other measures should be implemented to alleviate the burden on prisons, particularly the expansion of the implementation of non-custodial sentences and the use of electronic bracelets, which could come into operation this year.

Regarding the electronic bracelet, he noted that the sector is working to produce a standard and, once this process is complete, a tender for the acquisition of the equipment could be launched this year.

Source: Noticias