19 December 1997 Col Nampula Central Prison Innate Lould write letters twice a month but this right was hardly exercised. Mail was censored. Tt was most helpful to have a member of the Mozambique League of Human Rights accompanying me on my rounds in Nampula, even during a heavy downpour. Director José Ramote Fakira said he had nothing to hide and allowed me to see the organisational chart and the state of prisoners on the wall of his office. Under a Provincial director is a Chief of Guards. Two other officers were responsible for operations and administration. There were 5 guards. A disciplinary cell did not hold any prisoner. The prison had a total number of 438 inmates. 286 of them were on remand while 152 were convicts. There were only 5 female inmates. The length of remand was given as between 90 to 120 days although the slow court process sometimes stretched it to 6 months with the longest being 8 months. Young adults were not separated from adults. Generally, convicts and remand prisoners were accommodated in different cells, and were also kept apart during outdoor exercise. Among the convicts there was no categorisation according to either the length of sentence or the typc of offence due to limited space. Food 3 meals a day were served the inmates: maize meal with sugar for breakfast, maize flour and beans for lunch, and rice and dried fish for dinner. Additionally, the inmates could receive two meals each day from outside. ondcnce Hygiene Water was accessible to the inmates. They were also given soap twice a month. Pardon The last amnesty granted was under the late President Samora Machel. Conditional release could be granted after 6 months for remand prisoners, and after half of the sentence in the case of convicted prisoners who were of good behaviour. Open Centre One was located in the district of Rex for raising and rearing of crops and animals respectively Priconers of good behaviour could be sent here. Visit to t I Is The inmates confirmed that they received 3 meals each day. Two complained that they had been in custody without trial since 1995. Three of them claimed that they were 15 years old. Twice a day for l hour each they could go outside the cells. There was not sufficient sleeping room (normal state) in the cells, and some of the inmates slept hunched up or simply sat. Some even slept in the bathroom. Clothing Health No uniform was provided by the authorities. Many inmates were in tattered clothes. A health centre provided medical care for the sick. Serious cases were referred to the hospital in Nampula. Security Punishment Some of the inmates were cell leaders who had responsibility for order and security in their cells. Confinement in a disciplinary cell was the only punishment known to the prison administration. A confined prisoner could come out in the morning for half an hour for a bath and fresh air. Visits Both remand prisoners and convicts could have 2 visits each week. 28 tl A spokesman for prisoner on remand complained about the length of remand. They had no problem with the guards and the prison administration whom the former thought were doing their best. He was incensed against the police who took unduly long time in their investigation resulting in long detention. Some of 29