Lusaka launch of socio-economic impact study attended by Deputy Commissioner of Correctional Services

The Deputy Commissioner gave the keynote address on behalf of the Commissioner, Mr Percy Chato. Mr Godfrek Malembeka welcomed the attendees on behalf of the Board of the Legal Resources Foundation.

The report "The socio-economic impact of pre-trial detention in Kenya, Mozambique and Zambia" was written by Lukas Muntingh and Jean Redpath, based on fieldwork carried out by Zambian researchers under the supervision of Rumbidzai Mutasa, formerly of the Zambian Human Rights Commission.

Members of the Magistracy, the NPA, the police and civil society organisations also attended the launch, which was organised by the Legal Resources Foundation Zambia and the Paralegal Alliance network. Hard copies of the report were made available to the attendees. Lukas presented an overview of the findings while Jean presented findings specific to Zambia. The findings highlighted the role of non-bailable offences in driving very long periods of pre-trial detention in Zambia, and the severe impacts on the households supported by detainees: detainees frequently supported more than one household at the time of their arrest.