[1] The prison was built to address the growing need for a secure facility to hold criminals and political dissidents in the Northern Region of Malawi.

[1][2][3] The prison was established in 1956 during the British colonial era, with the aim of detaining and rehabilitating offenders from the northern region of Malawi.

Initially, the prison had a small capacity, but it has undergone several expansions and renovations over the years to accommodate the growing inmate population.

The vision of Mzuzu Central Prison is to become a model correctional facility in Malawi, providing effective rehabilitation programs and producing law-abiding citizens upon release.

The mission of the prison is to provide a safe, secure, and rehabilitative environment for inmates, staff, and the community, through effective management, efficient resource allocation, and collaboration with stakeholders.