It was a happy day for the people of Kamchocho Village when they received a water pump for the first time. Previously, both people and animals relied on the same source of water, but the community is now delighted to have access to clean and safe water from the newly installed pump.

Most of the villagers are poor, and many depend on farming for their livelihoods. This year, they are hoping for a good harvest, having planted mainly maize, groundnuts and tobacco. The road network is very poor, making travel difficult, and many children drop out of school because the nearest schools are located far from the village.

Kamwanjiwa Prison Farm is located in the western part of Mzimba District and focuses primarily on agriculture. The local chief has allocated additional land to the prison for farming, and it is now one of the prisons that supplies food to other correctional facilities. The surrounding communities have also benefited significantly from the prison's presence. For example, nursery and primary schools have been established in the area, where previously there were none. Villagers have also learned improved farming techniques from the prison farm, and they regularly work alongside the prison on community development initiatives.

It was because of this close relationship that one of the local chiefs approached Wells for Zoë to request assistance with providing safe water to the prison. In the past, the prison relied on a generator-powered water pump, but it stopped working about three years ago. Since then, prison inmates have had to walk long distances under the escort of prison warders to collect water.

Many of the inmates are young men. When we spoke with them, they shared the reasons why they were in prison. Some had been convicted of murder, while many others were serving sentences for theft. We also asked them about their hopes for the future after their release. Some said that their experiences in prison had changed them and that they intended to devote their lives to Christianity and become law-abiding citizens. Others, however, felt they had few opportunities awaiting them and admitted that they were likely to return to their previous way of life because they saw no other means of making a living. Their responses highlighted the importance of creating opportunities and hope if rehabilitation is to be successful.

The number of people recorded as using this pump refers only to the prison inmates. However, the actual number of beneficiaries will be considerably higher, as people living in the surrounding communities will also use the pump. This estimate was provided by the officer in charge of the prison farm.

The installation of this new pump will provide a reliable supply of clean and safe water for both the prison and the surrounding communities, further strengthening the partnership between the prison and the neighbouring villages. In addition to improving health and sanitation, it represents an investment in dignity, rehabilitation and the wider community that both the prison and its neighbours call home.

Date of Installation

2026-06-19

Area

Kamwanjiwa farm prison

District

Mzimba

GPS

-11.678620, 33.406880     see on map

Pump no.

26012

Dist. from Factory (km)

167.0

Village Head / Group Village Head

Kamchocho

Contact (phone no.)

Previous Water Source

Open wells

Installation Type

New

Well Depth (m)

8.55

Water Depth (m)

3.01

Pump Length (m)

8.35

Dist. from Furthest Household (m)

389

No. of People Served

200

Pump Dedication / Donor

Sisters of Bon Secours
Ireland