By: Sgt. Stephano Zimba, Assistant Public Relations Officer-Lilongwe Prison
The Crew for the incoming movie, titled Welcome to Maula Prison on Tuesday 20th August 2024, visited Lilongwe Prison (Maula prison) to interact with inmates in readiness for the shooting of the movie.
Kendall Kamwendo who is the producer of the movie under 4KAYA Films Inc commended the management of the Malawi Prisons Service and other authorities for granting them an approval to shoot the movie at the facility.
According to Kamwendo their visit on this particular day aimed at orienting the inmates on the background of the incoming movie so that when time for shooting ripes they would not not be caught unaware.
“We have come here to inform you of the incoming movie titled ‘Welcome to Maula Prison’. This is your time to show Malawians that you are not outcasts but rather potential and productive people. Your skills and talents will help sharpen other people’s negative perception about prisons in this country. We, therefore, urge you to take part in this movie. However, it is not a compulsory for you to participate but those who feel they can manage to join, let us do so without hesitation,” stressed Kendall when addressing the inmates.
He further said the film they intend to produce will help sensitive people on the programs Prisons Department is undertaking in as far as reformation and rehabilitation of inmates is concerned.
“We know pretty well that now Prisons Department is shifting from being punitive to correctional, so our intention is to help bring to the fore some of such activities happening in prisons to support the correction agenda,” said Kamwendo when briefing officers who will be assisting them during the movie shooting period.
He further contended that the film would also portray some challenges the prison Department is facing in general and the inmates in particular so that people should be well informed about the Malawi Prisons Service.
On his part, Assistant Superintendent Nezzer Chinkuntha, who represented the Officer In- Charge for Lilongwe Prison commended the grouping for their wonderful project of shooting the movie at the facility.
“It is through your movie that will help change people’s negative perception about the Prisons Department as some perceive that inmates are subjected to different forms of torture when in real sense it is not. Through the portrayals in the movie, people will now understand what it means to be in prison. We, therefore, beseech you to be our good will ambassadors,” he said.
On his part, Assistant Superintendent Justin Chisi who is the Discipline Officer at the station thanked the crew for being the partners of the Malawi Prisons Service arguing that it is the duty of everyone to make sure that the inmates are fully transformed to be productive citizens of the country.
The grouping donated essential items to the inmates such as; Soya pieces, Phala-king ready made Thobwa, Sogo laundry soap among others worth over K800, 000 (Eight Hundred Thousand Kwacha)
Spicing up the event, Lilongwe Prison Cultural Troop performed various dances namely; Chisamba, Beni and Gulewamkulu others showcased Acrobatics whereas Symon and Kendall of ‘Nyemba-Nyemba Boys’ performed their popular songs like Nataliya and Kumadya
