BBC’s Southern Africa reporter, Pumza Fihlani, in a visit to Antalaha Prison in Sava, one of Madagascar’s biggest vanilla-producing regions revealed that children accused of stealing vanilla beans can spend nearly three years in prison without trial.
The island is the world’s largest producer of vanilla beans, where a booming industry has led to rising theft.
But the conditions for child prisoners can be worrying, with some being given just one meal a day.
