Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

700 inmates die in Zimbabwe prison

|
|
 
  
Published: May 19, 2009 at 2:31 PM

HARARE, Zimbabwe, May 19 (UPI) -- Appalling conditions in Zimbabwe's Chikurubi prison have resulted in at least 700 of its 1,300 inmates dying in the last year, local media reported.

The Zimbabwe weekly The Standard said the maximum security prison, located about 12 miles east of Harare, has one of the highest deaths rates in the world, ranking it among the worst jails in human history, The Daily Telegraph reported Tuesday.

Six inmates were found dead in their filthy cells on Monday, with a similar number dying last weekend, the Standard reported. About 100 rat-mutilated bodies were stacked up in the prison mortuary waiting to be claimed or buried in pauper's graves within the prison walls.

The weekly reported the collapse of the Zimbabwean economy has resulted in medical care and food being cut off for Chikurubi inmates, leaving them exposed to diseases and starvation.

The International Red Cross has been allowed by Zimbabwe's new coalition government to help with conditions at the prison, but 327 deaths were recorded at Chikurubi between November and January, the Telegraph said.

Recommended Stories
© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
The Tibetan Moniam Festival in China Super Bowl XLVI ticker tape victory parade The making of the Oscars
The Chicago Auto Show The Most Desirable Women of 2012 Tu Bishvat Migron settlement
Additional Top News Stories
1 of 21
President Obama Signs Smuggling Prevention Act at White House
View Caption
fark
All fifth graders who want to go see "Red Tails" please step forward. Whoa not so fast there girls...
If we timewarped back by 2000 years, what job would you be most qualified to do? No, you can't bring...
BAD: getting caught in a landslide while hiking. WORSE: getting struck by lightning while trying...
Weepy eyes, hot chix, Jersey Shore Ronnie and a guy with mini fishing reels stuck in his beard....
French roadbuilders find 21 German WWI soldiers...and 1 goat
Photoshop this crazy old coot in the cold