So. Zambia, a country of 11,000,000 people, who are supposedly
16% HIV positive, or more, lost 451 prisoners to AIDS, plus 131
terminally ill prisoners sent home, a total of 582 in *three years.*

That would be an average of (582/3) 194 prisoners per year.
Zambia had a prison population of 13,173 in 2002.
(http://www.kirsten-pow.com/World%20Prison%20Population.pdf )
That's (100 x [194/13173]) 1.47%.

16% HIV positive means (11,000,000 x 0.16) 1,760,000
people HIV positive nationwide. And yet, they only lose 194
prisoners to HIV, per year.

http://www.times.co.zm/news/viewnews.cgi?category=5&id=1123270837

HIV/AIDS claim 400 prisoners
By Tiyese Sakala

PARLIAMENT yesterday heard that 451 inmates have died in various
prisons across the country between 2001 and 2004 from HIV/AIDS
related diseases. Home Affairs Deputy Minister Justin Chilufya said a
total of 131 terminally ill prisoners were released during the same duration.

He was responding to a question from Lumezi MP Major General Dickson Zulu
(UNIP) who wanted to know how many prisoners died from HIV/AIDS
related diseases in the period under review. Mr Chilufya said last year,
the Prisons Amendment Act, which empowered the Commissioner of
Prisons to recommend terminally ill prisoners for release, was enacted.

He said in the past, release of prisoners was the prerogative of the President
but the amendment had eased the situation. He however said Government did
not have plans to release all prisoners who were diagnosed to be HIV positive
but only terminally ill ones would continue to be considered under the new Act.

He said the release of the prisoners was part of Government efforts to decongest
the prisons. This was in response to Katuba MP Jonas Shakafuswa (UPND)
who asked what measures Government was putting in place to ensure that prisons
were decongested since most of the prisoners contracted TB while in prison.

Chilanga MP Cosmas Moono (UPND) wanted to know if Government was
considering allowing wives of prisoners to have sex with their husbands as a
way of mitigating the spread of the disease and also reducing on incidents of
homosexuality.

Mr Chilufya said Government was not considering such an alternative as a way
of reducing transmission of the disease. Parliament also heard that 1,409 defence
force personnel had died between 2001 and 2004 from natural causes.

Defence Minister Wamundila Muliokela told the House that a large number
of retired soldiers had been paid their dues. Government was doing everything
possible to expeditiously clear the remaining officers.

He was responding to Kawambwa MP Afrika Chungu who wanted to know
how many defence personnel had died from 2001 to 2004 and if their families
had been paid.

Communications and Transport Deputy Minister Harrigan Mbazima told
Parliament that Government was still courting the potential investor for the
construction and concessioning of the Chipata/Mchinji rail line.

The minister was responding to Luangeni MP Besnat Jere (UNIP) who
wondered when construction of the Chipata/Mchinji Railway would
commence.

Communications Minister Abel Chambeshi said one of the two potential
investors who had been courted had fallen off and that Government was
now dealing with the same constructors who helped with the construction
of the railway on the Malawian and Mozambican sides.

And the Ionising Radiation Protection Bill yesterday went through the
second reading and would come up for the committee stage on Tuesday.
The Bill seeks to repeal the Ionising and radiation Act of 1997 and also to
set up the Radiation Protection Authority that would ensure the protection
of the public and employees in institutions that deal with radioactive materials.

Chairman of the committee that was appointed to scrutinise the Bill Peter
Machungwa said the committee fully supported the enactment of the new
Act and the setting up of the authority but was concerned with some clauses
on how the authority would be run.

In summing up the debate Health Minister Sylvia Masebo said Government
would take note of the concerns raised by various members of the House
such as the inclusion of other stakeholders on the Board.

Meanwhile, President Mwanawasa is next week expected to officially open
a roundtable meeting on the interface between regional parliamentary
bodies/assemblies and the Pan African Parliament from August 8 to 9 to be
hosted by the National Assembly.

The objective of the meeting, which will take place in Lusaka, is to generate
consolidated recommendations for strengthening of an integrated approach
and provide a perspective on the pace of the regional integration.