RUSIZI- Inmates at Rusizi Prison have requested more visitation days and regular updates on new government projects.

They made the requests during a visit by the Minister for Internal Security, Sheikh Musa Fazil Harerimana, who was on a nationwide inspection of activities that fall under his portfolio.

Prisoners also expressed concerns about Genocide cases that were not concluded before Gacaca courts closed business.

Harerimana re-assured the prisoners that their cases would be handled with or without Gacaca.

"The visit is aimed at addressing prisoners’ problems. We want to empower them, so that reform and productivity in prisons can increase,” he said.

On th community service (TIG), the minister advised those concerned to write to the Ministry of Justice, adding that the pending appeal cases were being handled by the Rusizi Court.

The inmates expressed their gratitude for the kitchen equipment, computers, balls and other new provisions that the government recently provided.

The Commissioner General for Prison Services, Mary Gahonzire, announced that more prisons staff would be posted to the area.

Harerimana asked various sectors to visit prisons, stressing that the government aims at rehabilitating inmates into better citizens, not merely convicting and punishing them.Rusizi prison is home to more than 3,000 inmates.

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