Police have fired tear gas in separate clashes with striking prison warders in the northern city of Mzuzu and the eastern city of Zomba.
Junior prison staff are staging a nationwide strike to demand improvements in their work conditions and have closed entrances to jails.
The government decided to send police officers to all prisons to watch over inmates, a move that was resisted by the striking warders.
In Mzuzu, prison warders fired shots in the air forcing the police to flee and fire tear-gas canisters from a distance.
The police in Zomba were also chased by the strikers who threatened to fire live bullets.
Prison warders are demanding to be given a risk allowance, improved working conditions, an end to alleged nepotism and fair treatment when granting promotions to staff.
Malawi’s Times Media Group tweeted a photo of the situation in Mzuzu:
Social embed from twitter
Times 360 Malawi@bnltimesPolice in Mzuzu have surrounded Mzuzu Prison, where they have removed the entrance barricade set by striking prison warders.
The armed police officers came in full force with an anti riot vehicle and three other vehicles to restore peace and order.
Reported by Sam Kalimira.
