'No prisoner has died of hunger,' says Mnangagwa

The government is denying reports by officials in the Justice Ministry that more than 100 prisoners have died in detention since January this year due to malnutrition and related illnesses caused by food shortages and natural causes.

Jstice Ministry permanent secretary, Virginia Mabhiza, and Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services Deputy Commissioner responsible for administration, Agrrey Machingauta, told parliament's Justice Portfolio Committee under oath Monday that the food situation in the country's prisons was dire, adding 100 inmates had died as a result since the beginning of the year.

But responding to questions from members of the National Assembly, Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, said although prisons in the country had food challenges, not a single person has died of hunger.

He accused media of distorting information given to parliament by the two senior officials in his ministry. Mr. Mnangagwa did not disclose what had caused the deaths of the 100 inmates.

The two senior officials told the parliamentary committee that they require $1.2 million to run the country's prisons but they were allocated only $300,000 resulting in the failure to provide adequate food.

Earlier this year, Zimbabwe Prison Commissioner, Paradzai Zimondi, told journalists during a media tour of the Harare Remand Prison that they were experiencing food shortages and were getting assistance from non-governmental organisations to supplement their food supplies.