By CHILA NAMAIKO –

A SEPTIC tank inside Choma Central Prison has broken down, causing panic among inmates and authorities over a possible outbreak of dysentery.
The effluent is now overflowing in an open sewer system adjacent to the fields of residents in the neighbourhood.
Scores of residents have since lodged complaints with Choma Municipal Council (CMC) that the waste matter had become a health hazard and were also fearing a disease outbreak.
The septic tank was originally built to service a capacity of 120 inmates, but as of Monday, there was a total of 441 inmates, thereby overwhelming its function.
CMC health inspector Steven Chama and public relations officer Ramona Phiri, on Monday led a team of journalists during an inspection of the main septic tank outside the prison building.
Mr Chama said CMC was receiving complaints from residents who resided near the prison regarding the broken down sewer system.
He learnt that the prison had recently engaged Southern Water and Sewerage Company to drain the effluent from the septic tank, but the company had halted services leading to the current problem.
He called on the prison management to address the problem before a disease outbreak was recorded especially at a time when rains were expected.
Some residents talked to, complained that the septic tank inside the prison broke down six months ago, but the inmates had  continued to use their toilets.
David Mweetwa said the continued use of  toilets in the prison was posing a challenge to the septic tank capacity to hold the wastes.
He said, although there was a sewer system for passage of waste from the septic tank inside the prison, the receiving one outside, was also filled to capacity.