for them because it had dried up the source of improvement in their diet: food from visitors. Other complaints were inadequate medicine, lack of water containers and inability to get rid of waste water. 17 December 1997 The cells looked better than those of the male prisoners. The female inmates had beds and blankets. The prison was situated within the town, and inmates could witness part of life outside prison through the windows. A wall of about 2 metres surrounded the prison. Discip I mar\ cells Some of the cells had clothes, cup and toothbrushes which suggested that there were inmates there but none was seen inside. The Director welcomed my visit and looked forward to whatever help the Commission could give towards improvement of conditions in the prison. He also apologised for the misunderstanding about discussion with inmates in private at the beginning of the visit. He had not received instruction to permit it. Beira Central Prison Luis Seberto Tsueane, the Director seemed genuinely surprised to see us because he had had no notification of our visit. However, he welcomed us heartily and agreed to a discussion with him as well as a visit to the cells and other sections of the prison. Constructed about 80 years ago, it had never been renovated. It was built to accommodate 150 prisoners, but held 626 inmates at the time of the visit. 17 of them were women. While the exact number of young adult. r I 6-21) could not be given immediately, it was known that they formed the I ti r t,st number because they were the most active criminal group. None of the i tan this was below 16. 206 had not been charged; 218 were waiting to be tried while 202 were convicts. The average period of remand was 6 months to 1 year. All these categories of prisoners were mixed up: they did everything together as a result of limited space. The prison had a staff of 66 (guards and administrative personnel). A new prison, which the Director was eager to show us, but which time constraint did not make it possible, when completed, would house all the inmates from Beira Central Prison. Located near Beira it would have been completed quite sometime ago had there been the requisite funds. Health There was a health centre with a nurse. Serious cases were transferred to hospitals. Those who could afford it paid for the more expensive medicine as the centre had only basic medicine. Food It was a problem for the prison administration I lad there been a kitchen in the prison, the inmates would have had 2 meals eaLli Wu But because the food was prepared some distance away from the prison ti tut should have been eaten on two occasions was combined and prepared once (600g per detainee). 22 23