Paul Nyathi|Opposition MDC Bulawayo province reports that staff at Mlondolozi Women Prison in Bulawayo on Saturday barred senior party members from visiting party members incarcerated in the prison.

According to the officials, party National Chairperson Thabitha Khumalo who visited the prison with relatives of the prisoners was refused entry by junior prison officers who told her that she had to seek permission from their bosses to get access into the premises.

Khumalo and the relatives had brought food and sanitary pads for the party members who were arrested following citizen protests in the city on January 14.

Khumalo confirmed the incident in an interview with the media on Sunday morning.

“On Saturday we visited our comrades at Mlondolozi with the intention of giving them pads and foods since the institution are failing to provide standard meals and pads to inmates,” said Khumalo.

“Prison guards there told us that we were not allowed to visit the inmates because they are not our relatives.

“When I pointed out to them that among us there were relatives of the incarcerated, they said the relatives were supposed to come alone without the company of party officials.”

“What ZPCS is doing in unfair and inhumane,” Khumalo added.

These people have not been convicted and they have the right to proper food and sanitary wear. Even if they are convicted, they still enjoy these basic rights.”

Efforts to get a comment from authorities at ZPCS offices in Bulawayo were not successful at the time of writing.