The Minister of Justice, Constitutional and Religious Affairs, Mateus Saíze, announced the construction of 13 new penitentiary facilities over the next five years, in an attempt to reduce overcrowding, which currently exceeds twice the installed capacity in Mozambican prisons. The minister explained that this plan is part of the activities for the 2025–29 five-year period and aims to improve the conditions in which inmates are held.
According to Mateus Saíze, the project includes the construction of ten district-level prisons and three regional-level prisons. The minister stated that the works now underway correspond to the “laying of the first stone” for the facilities planned for 2025–29, marking the start of a phase of prison network expansion.
The minister added that the ten district prisons will be built primarily in districts that have courts but no penitentiary facilities. This measure aims to ensure that inmates are accommodated close to the locations where their legal proceedings take place.
Mateus Saíze further stated that the government is still in the first phase of construction but emphasized the urgent need to increase prison capacity. Mozambique currently has 138 facilities, both general and specialized, which is insufficient to meet growing demand.
The minister explained that the country has approximately 8,000 beds for a prison population of around 20,000. “This means that we have overcrowding more than twice the installed capacity at the national level,” he said, highlighting that the goal is to provide more humane treatment for detainees.
In addition to building new facilities, the government intends to strengthen the training of inmates, with particular focus on agricultural and livestock activities. The goal is to “give inmates a profession” and ensure that, upon returning to family life, they have better conditions for social and professional reintegration.
The minister also mentioned the implementation of an electronic bracelet system, expected to be introduced by December, as part of discussions on alternative sentences, considered a necessary response to the high prison overcrowding.
Other public figures have also highlighted this situation. In July, President Daniel Chapo advocated for a prison system focused on rehabilitation rather than solely punitive action, acknowledging the “structural constraints” in prisons. In the same month, Vice President of the Supreme Court, Matilde Almeida, warned of difficulties in applying alternative sentences due to inmate escapes and persistent prison overcrowding.
Source: Lusa
