By NNN-ZANIS
Lusaka : The Government has procured six ambulances and two buses at a cost of K1.8 billion for the Prisons Services.
The prisons have lacked means of transport to ferry in-mates when ever they gor sick for a long time.
Speaking during the presentation of the vehicles, newly appointed Prisons Service Commssioner, Gibbie Nawa, said he was grateful to government for the gesture.
Mr Nawa said the vehicles came at the time when many prisons were faced with transport problems.
Mr. Nawa said he was proud that the new deal government has introduced a new vision for the prisons service to improve on the fast truck of attaining the Unites Nations standard rules in the treatment of offenders to which Zambia is a signatory.
He pointed out that the ambulances would be distributed to Millima Prison in Kasama, Chipata Central, Lusaka Central, Kamfinsa, Mukobeko group of prisons and Katombola reformatory school.
Speaking earlier, Central Province Permanent Secretary Denny Limbama in a speech read on his behalf by his Assistant Sectetary, Mwifwa Ng’ambi, said the prison service has had no ambulance since its inception close to a century.
Mr.Lumbama also commended government for putting up programmes that have since transformed the operational conditions in prisons services.
He said the in- mates were now being given humane treatment which affords offenders a great chance to reform into responsible citizens upon discharged from prison.
Mr. Lumbama warned the prison officers to avoid using the ambulances for other activities other than what they were intended for.