Chakwera pardons 48 inmates during Christmas Holiday

By Kondanani Chilimunthaka

As part of 2023 Christmas Celebration, President Lazarus Chakwera has pardoned 48 prisoners from various prisons across the country.

In a Press Release signed by the Secretary for Homeland Security dated 30th December 2023, President Chakwera has among others pardoned female convicts who were accompanied by their children to prison, elderly and those who have served half of their sentences.

“The Prisoners who have been pardoned are those who have met the retirements of the Guidelines for the Granting of Pardon for Convicted Prisoners and have demonstrated good behavioral reforms while serving their sentences” Reads part of the Press Release.

President Chakwera has also granted a General Armnesty to convicted prisoners serving determinate sentences reducing their respective sentences by six (6) months as a measurer to decongest the prisons.

In a separate interview, Minister of Homeland Security, Ken Zikhale Ng’oma commended President Chakwera for including elderly and female prisoners with children.

“President Chakwera has also shown his commitment towards promotion of Human Rights by including elderly and female convicts with children when pardoning these inmates” Ng’oma said.

During a similar festive last year, President Chakwera pardoned 230 prisoners while committing three prisoners on death-row to life imprisonment.