Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
President Edgar Lungu has launched the first ever Public Private Partnership (PPP) driven construction of Correctional facilities at Mwembeshi with a combined capacity of 3,300 at a total cost of US$21 million.
Speaking during the ground breaking ceremony in Mwembeshi today, President Lungu says the two projects which are as a result of a partnership with the private sector are expected to create 2,380 jobs at construction stage.
He says the PF Government has recognised the need for collaboration with the private sector in public service delivery not only in correctional service, but also in other sector.
President Lungu says the projects are a clear testimony of the PF Government’s unwavering commitment to the provision of humane correctional services.
He notes that Zambian prison facilities are more than 200% overcrowded with a population of more than 19,000 against the holding capacity of over 8,250 inmates.
President Lungu says this is a health risk to inmates in that the environment is conducive for transmission of communicable diseases, such as Tuberculosis and HIV and AIDS.
He states that to counter many of the challenges that prisons are faced with, the PF Government remains committed to upholding human rights as enshrined in international and regional human rights convention which Zambia is party to.