ui .4 remand
The &yet age was 34 days but some could extend to 90 days, and in rare cases
beyond this period.
Punishment
The sanction for breach of regulations was isolation for 1 or 2 days though it
could sometimes last for 10 days. Isolation was coupled with denial of visit
Chaim'
The pi .son authorities provided clothesfor the inmates.
getting visits: they only received messages informing them of the names of their
visitors without seeing them. It is noted that the cholera outbreak led to a
cancellation of visits. Beds and blankets were available, but they were given no
soap. There were foreigners from Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Uganda and Portugal
among the inmates.
The inmates complained bitterly about corruption among police officers who
would destroy evidence on payment of money. One of the toi eigners complained
that although an order for his release had been given by a iutlee he had stayed on
for a week because he could not raise the money demanded b ihe police for his
actual release. His embassy was also not aware of his detention.
Most of the inmates would not talk because, they informed me, they had been
ordered not to talk.
Visits
Every inmate was entitled to 2 visits each month lasting 3 hours per visit.
Correspondence
There was no limit to the number of letters which an inmate could write or
receive.
Water and Hygiene
It was sometimes a problem getting water but generally there was access to water
three times daily. The sewerage system was in a state of disrepair. Soap was
distributed twice a month whenever available.
Complaint Procedure
Inmates could complain to the rehabilitation section which would pass it on to the
appropriate authorities including the President of the Republic.
Visit to the Premises
A long hall which overlooks a football field served as a reception for visitors. A
transit wail housed new arrivals until they were transferred to other prisons or
sections of NI1pm° Civil Prison. At the time of the visit all the inmates of the
transit ward ii eie policemen.
1st Section of Prison
With difficulty the officers agreed to a private discussion between the inmates
and myself. The former wanted to be present. The inmates were served one meal
a day in small quantity. They had beds and blankets. They complained about not
20
2nd Part of Prison
One cell with 6 prisoners had one bed and two blankets. Some of them, therefore,
slept on the bare floor. One would not talk to me because he feared what would
happen to him on my departure.
A bathroom had water flowing without control although there were days when
water did not flow.
Health Centre
A health centre which was attended by men and women on different occasions
was neat and tidy, as was the nurse.
Female Section
The head of this unit was male. It had 67 women with 9 children between 1 and
4 months. One of them was born in prison three months earlier. The mother was
said to have been imprisoned just before giving birth. The children ate the same
food as their mothers, which consisted of maize and beans. They complained
about the poor quality of the food. They were given no soap.
Most of them were on remand, some up to 1 year. Some had not even been
charged. Others should have been kept in Maputo Central Prison but limited
space there had ended them here. Convicts and remand prisoners lived in the
same cell. They had no uniforms.
The cancellation of visits as a result of the outbreak of cholera was a sore point
21
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents