Zambia: President Lungu pardons 2,182 prisoners to commemorate Africa Freedom Day

The countries in Africa celebrate Africa Freedom Day every year which falls on May 25. For the sake of celebrating Africa Freedom Day, Zambia's President Edgar Lungu has pardoned 2,182 prisoners from different prisons across the South African country.

Zambia's Head of State, Edgar Lungu invoked the power of mercy to forgive and commute death sentences.

Minister of Home Affairs Stephen Kampyongo said among those pardoned include 2,032 ordinary inmates, 29 females with children born in prisons, 31 aged inmates and 25 foreigners convicted for various offences, Xinhua noted.

He said during a press briefing that the pardoning of the inmates was in line with powers vested in the Zambian leader in the constitution. The President also commuted 14 death sentences to life imprisonment and two death sentences to 25 years of imprisonment.

He said the pardoned inmates represent about 10 percent of the total prison population which stand at 22,000 against the holding capacity of 9,000. According to him, prison authorities and inmates have expressed gratitude to the Zambian leader as the move will result in decongestion.

Zambia also joins the other African countries on Saturday, May 25 to commemorate the Africa Freedom Day. This day is celebrated every year in Africa to ignite the determination of the Africans to free themselves from foreign rule, domination and exploitation.

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