Inmates at Mzuzu Prison will now have an opportunity to follow current affairs following a donation of a Samsung Plasma television to the prison by the country’s vice president Khumbo Kachali.

His wife, Martha Kachali presented the donation, including a bull and five bales of sugar valued at over K 600,000 on Wednesday.

The donation followed the visit of President Joyce Banda to the prison on Sunday where she presided over prayers.

Kachali said the prisoners lack love and support and it is necessary to remember them through such gifts.

On his part, Mzuzu Prison Station Officer, Jonas Chimoto commended the Vice President’s family for their gesture to reach out to the inmates at Mzuzu Prison.

Chimoto said “the prison receives inadequate funding for operations to provide all the necessities to the inmates, therefore the donations, such as television will keep the prisoners updated on what is going in the world.”

The prison building has a capacity of 200 but holds 447 inmates. It was previously used as a tile manufacturing plant and was turned into a prison in 1959