Zomba Central Prison

Zomba Central Prison

Location	Zomba, Malawi
Coordinates	15°23′13″S 35°19′09″E
Status	Operational
Security class	Maximum (male and female)
Capacity	340
Opened	January 1935
Managed by	Malawi Prison Service

Zomba Central Prison is a referral national prison in Malawi. It is the biggest prison in Malawi. In January 2024, the prison was moved to Lilongwe.

History

Formation

Zomba Central Prison was built in 1935 during the British colonial era in Malawi (then known as Nyasaland). It was designed to hold 340 prisoners and was intended to serve as a maximum-security facility for the country.

Facilities

The prison has six cell blocks, including:

• One for juvenile offenders

• One for first offenders
• Two for recurrent offenders
• One for women
• One for condemned prisoners

The prison also has facilities for prisoners to work and receive training, such as a workshop, a farm, and a tailoring shop.

Notable inmates

Some notable inmates who have been held at Zomba Central Prison include:

• Hastings Kamuzu Banda, the first President of Malawi, who was imprisoned by the British colonial authorities in 1959
• Orton Chirwa, a politician and lawyer who was imprisoned for his opposition to Banda's government
• Gwanda Chakuamba, a politician and opposition leader who was imprisoned for his political activities

Challenges

The prison has faced numerous challenges, including overcrowding, poor sanitation, and inadequate food and medical care for prisoners. In recent years, there have been efforts to improve conditions and reduce overcrowding, but the prison remains one of the most notorious in Malawi.