Lubango - The Huíla Prison Services requested the Ombudsman's Office to mobilize resources to complete the work on the Matala prison facilities, which is currently 70% of physically done.
The entry into operation of that unit would help to "relieve" the overcrowded Lubango penitentiary, which has more than 1,400 prisoners, when its capacity is 500.
According to the director of the Prison Services of Huíla, Deputy Prison Commissioner, Candela de Carvalho, on the sidelines of the three-day work visit to Huíla by the Deputy Ombudsman, Aguinaldo da Costa, this establishment will have the capacity to receive 800 inmates.
He highlighted that when it comes into operation it will resolve the overcrowding situation experienced by the Lubango prison facilities.
“One of our biggest challenges is to reverse the current situation of the criminal population, as 70% of the prison population is made up of detainees and the remaining 30% are convicts”, he highlighted.
In response, the deputy ombudsman, Aguinaldo da Costa, promised to take the concern to the competent authorities, given that he noted the “painful” prison situation in the Lubango instalations.
BP/MS/CF/DOJ
