All female inmates at Maula Prison in the capital Lilongwe have been transferred to Mzuzu Prison as the female section is turned into an isolation center.

The development comes after Mzimba and Chichiri prisons have registered cases of the novel covid-19.

Malawi Prison service Spokesperson Superintendent Chimwemwe Shaba confirmed of the development saying a prison officer and an inmate have tested positive for coronavirus.

Maula prison is among the four prisons that have been turned as isolation centers, others include; Zomba Prison (female section), Mzimba Prison (female section) and Thyolo Prison.

The development has however worried Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) who are thinking of the lives of the female prisoners.

The CSOs have however asked the Malawi Prison Service to ensure that the women are provided with adequate food and basic necessities considering the fact that their families will be having difficulties to visit them.