Africa-Press – Lesotho. The recently published human rights report has detailed the challenges that continue to bedevil the Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) facilities. Titled the Lesotho 2021 Human Rights Report, the report interrogates the living conditions and the inmates’ health and safety within the correctional facilities’ environment.
It is said that prison life is often “disorientating” and is a “shock” to the system and the inmates as their daily routines are disrupted by strict living conditions that regulate their new environment.
Coupled with this, the detainees are confronted with unhealthy living conditions. The American government-sponsored report’s findings highlight the overcrowding, lack of adequate infrastructure, poor nutrition and medical care as some of the challenges.
“Prison conditions were harsh and life-threatening due to overcrowding in most facilities; deteriorating infrastructure; physical abuse and inmate violence, including rape; and poor food quality, clothing, sanitary conditions, medical care, ventilation, lighting and heat,” reads the report in pertinent part.
The report further says: “The Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) reported facilities in Maseru, Leribe and Berea were overcrowded. Overcrowding at prisons was attributed to high crime rates among the unemployed.
During the year the LCS released 119 of a total of 1 598 prison-system inmates to reduce potential COVID-19 infections. “Additionally, it released 100 inmates on special holidays.
The non-governmental organization (NGO), Transformation Resource Centre (TRC) observed that infrastructure deterioration rendered some prison facilities uninhabitable. The TRC stated that there was a shortage of masks and soap in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in LCS facilities. ”
According to the Penal Reform International, a non-governmental organization (NGO) that works globally to promote criminal justice system that upholds human rights reports in over 118 countries, the correctional facilities have exceeded their maximum occupancy rate and 11 have doubled their occupancy capacity.
Overcrowding is occasioned by the criminal justice and it undermines the correctional facilities’ ability to meet the basic human needs of the detainees such as food, healthcare, and accommodation.
This NGO further cautions that: “It [overcrowding] compromises the provision and effectiveness of rehabilitation programmes, educational and vocational training, and recreational activities.
Overcrowding, as well as related problems such as lack of privacy, can also cause or exacerbate mental health problems, and increase rates of violence, self-harm and suicide.
” With the high rate of crime happening in the country, overcrowding in correctional facilities is likely to remain a persistent phenomenon.
Also, this problem is in part due to the lack of a bigger correctional facility in Mafeteng as most of the offenders in that district are rehabilitated at Mohale’s Hoek correctional facility.
It also highlighted the violence amongst the detainees, citing an incident wherein an inmate in Leribe correctional facility was assaulted by two gang members and one of the attackers was reported to have been sanctioned and placed in solitary confinement while the other was issued with a warning.
The report also mentioned incidents of rape and consensual unprotected sex between the inmates saying they have contributed to a high rate of HIV/AIDS in the correctional facilities.
“The LCS reported one case during the year in which two inmates raped another inmate,” reads the report.
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