Report finds severe hunger, overcrowding and chronic underfunding across Malawi’s prisons.
A national study commissioned by the Malawi Inspectorate of Prisons, with support from Irish Rule of Law International, has revealed an escalating food crisis across Malawi’s prison system, with many prisoners surviving on one inadequate meal a day and hundreds identified as severely undernourished.
The report, authored by expert nutritionist Dr William Kasapira of Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, assessed food provision, nutrition, prison farming, sanitation and kitchen infrastructure across 27 prisons in Malawi between December 2024 and May 2025.
The study found that overcrowding, underfunding, inflation, and food shortages have left many prisons unable to meet even minimum nutritional standards required under Malawi law and international human rights obligations.
Among the report’s findings:
- Malawi’s prison population stands at 16,237 people, despite official capacity for 8,694.
- Many prisons provide only one meal per day.
- Some prisons reported periods where inmates received only porridge with salt, or nsima without relish.
- The study identified 702 prisoners as severely undernourished.
- Many remand prisoners remain in detention for prolonged periods because they cannot afford bail or legal support.
The report also highlights the impact of overcrowding and inadequate infrastructure on prisoner health and dignity, including poor sanitation, limited healthcare access, insufficient cooking facilities, and inadequate diets for elderly, sick, pregnant and vulnerable prisoners.
Dr Kasapira’s findings warn that prolonged inadequate nutrition may lead to serious long-term health consequences, including malnutrition, anaemia, hypertension and increased vulnerability to disease.
The report calls for urgent action, including:
- increased and timely prison food funding,
- reform of prison diet standards,
- investment in prison farming and kitchen infrastructure,
- improved sanitation and healthcare,
- and measures to reduce overcrowding, including faster handling of remand cases.
The Centre for Human Rights Education, Advice and Assistance and other organisations have previously warned that without sufficient funding for food provision, Malawi’s prison system cannot function effectively.
Irish Rule of Law International supported the study as part of its ongoing work to strengthen justice systems, human rights protections and access to justice.