South Kivu, 9 July 2015 — In South Kivu, the prison in Kalehe, after its recent renovation thanks to MONUSCO, was officially handed over to the provincial minister of Justice and Human rights, Mme Gisele Balegamire, on Thursday 9 July 2015.

The minister received the keys to the refurbished prison during an ceremony attended by administrative, security and migration authorities, military and police officials, as well as representatives of the tradition authority in Kalehe.

Part of the renovation works, executed by the NGO CAPES, consisted in knocking down crumbling walls and rebuilding them, installing protection mesh screens in roofs, installing of multiplex ceiling, renovating all sanitation facilities.

Additions include a hangar with metal chairs, as well as a security booth and a surveillance watchtower.

Other works involved providing the entire prison with electricity from solar power, safe water supply for all cells, paving the inner courtyard which now offers separated areas reserved for men, women and children, as well as setting up rooms for the prison’s infirmary, administration, registry and guard.

All of this cost 71,471 US dollars, funded by MONUSCO.

Marietha dos Santos, who represented the head of MONUSCO office at the ceremony, expressed her delight “to be able to deliver to the ministry of Justice and the Kalehe community a building where detainees will now experience better conditions.”

She hopes, she said, the Congolese Government « will do its part by ensuring that the prison has sufficient staff to operate properly, and that the basic inmate needs are met…”

These basic needs include food, heath care and bedding, as well as enough prison staff, regularly paid and equipped, said Buga Nduanging, the prison guard.

Provincial Justice Minister Gisèle Balegamire, for her part, expressed the wish to see this prison help respond to the priorities assigned to her ministry: fighting impunity and reducing congestion at Bukavu’s central prison.

Alain Likota