Chikurubi maximum prison inmates are living on a health time bomb amid indications that they are getting only four litres of water per day each to cater for all their daily needs including drinking and bathing.
Speaking after visiting his incarcerated party members Tungamirai Madzokere and Last Maengahama, Movement for Democratic Change leader, Nelson Chamisa bemoaned the sorry state of prisons which he said are not good for any human being.
“They told me about the challenges they are facing as inmates. They told me that they have about 2600 inmates and together with their colleagues, they are getting between six to 10 thousand litres of water per day meaning they for every inmate, there are about four litres for drinking, bathing and other important necessities,” said Chamisa.
The youthful opposition politician told reporters that the inhumane conditions being subjected to inmates at Chikurubi were undesirable.
“So it’s quite a dicey situation for the inmates and they also told me that the prison has cracked walls so they are worried about their safety,” Chamisa said.
Harare is facing an acute shortage of water with city fathers announcing that residents will be getting portable water at least once a week due to a combination of foreign currency shortage and low water levels in its main source.
City of Harare has since appealed to government to have the crisis declared a state of emergency so that urgent steps may be taken to address the disaster.
