Zambia Prisons Commissioner Percy Chato is worried at the huge number of prisoners in the country.
Chato said over 17,000 Zambians are currently in prison with the highest number from Copperbelt.
He said since independence, there has been an increase of over 16,000 prisoners.
The Zambia Prison has of late been embroiled in a scandal after their recruits killed about nine prisoners on death row at Mukobeko Maximum Prison in Kabwe.
Government has denied the killings but relatives have displayed death certificates of their loved ones from Kabwe General Hospital where they were recorded as Brought in Dead.
Prisoners in Solwezi want a bigger prison to reduce overcrowding and congestion. The prisoners have complained that they sleep in a sitting position because of lack of space.
The prisoners made the presentation to home affairs deputy minister Nixon Chilangwa when he toured the prison on Friday.
The post 17, 000 Zambians in Jail appeared first on Zambia Reports.