MUKOBEKO Maximum Prison in Kabwe is a cage for dangerous criminals going by its reputation. Prisoners serving sentences ranging from death, life imprisonment and over 20 years can surely be deemed dangerous.
Reports that some of those prisoners were being transported in open vans from Kabwe High Court back to the prison are indeed scary.
The scene happened last week as prisoners were transported to and from the Supreme Court appeal sitting in Kabwe.
Kabwe Mayor, Richard Bango was right to have expressed shock upon seeing prisoners being transported in such a manner.
We agree with Mr Bango’s observation that the act was a serious security lapse and that it should be condemned.
Images of some prisoners who were transferred late at night as a measure of security remind citizens of how tightly such inmates needed to be guarded.
It is not too long ago when inmates from Mukobeko escaped even under maximum security that has been associated with that prison.
The high walls and uncompromised guarding under which they are caged is proof enough that they are a danger to society.
If criminals could find their way out of such a tightly manned prison, what would stop them from escaping from an open van?
Much as they were being escorted by armed security personnel, concerns still arise as to what could have happened had those prisoners attempted to escape. These are convicts who can best be described as having nothing to lose and could dare make any attempts for freedom, even at the expense of their lives.
Mind you these are people who are condemned for having murdered, robbed, defiled and raped women and girls, therefore are sophisticated in their own thinking.
We, therefore hope that such lapses should not be repeated as a way of safeguarding the general citizenly and even the security personnel assigned to escort them.