President Edagr Lungu has pardoned 300 inmates countrywide on the occasion of the 54th Independence Day celebrations.

Minister of Home Affairs Stephen Kampyongo disclosed this at a media briefing in Lusaka, explaining that seven of the 300 pardoned inmates were old-aged people.

“To commemorate the 54th independence anniversary, the President of the Republic of Zambia and Commander-IN-Chief of the Armed Forces, His Excellency Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu has today the Eve of the 24th of October, 2018, exercised his prerogative of mercy on 300 inmates based in various correctional facilities throughout the Republic of Zambia. Seven are old aged inmates out of the 300. This is in accordance with Article 97 of the Constitution of Zambia, which provides for the Presidential pardon and substitution of severe punishment imposed on convicted persons,” said Kampyongo.

“The Ministry of Home Affairs, staff of the Zambia Correctional Service and inmates of the correctional facilities throughout the country are indeed grateful to His Excellency the President, for exercising his prerogative of mercy at the time when the correctional facilities are extremely congested. The details of the breakdown will be given when the gazette has been signed at government printers.”