President Lungu warns prisoners not to abuse presidential pardon

President Edgar Lungu has cautioned prisoners against abusing the presidential pardon once released from prison.

President Lungu has observed that inmates who are released on presidential pardon have in the recent past abused their chances and ended up finding themselves back in prisons.

ZANIS reports that the President said powers to forgive prisoners should not be taken for granted because his intention to pardon some prisoners is being exercised in good faith in order to give people who had gone against the law a second chance.

The head of state cautioned inmates against embarrassing him for pardoning them saying it was embarrassing to see some inmates who were pardoned back in the correctional facilities.

He said prisoners are incarcerated in order to reform so that they can return to society as better and resourceful citizens and not as condemned citizens.

He said as a Christian he feels duty bound to forgive law breakers after they realise their mistake so that they can start over in society.

He said every citizen can make a mistake but pointed out that breaking the law with impunity does not pay as the law breakers will be caged.

He said his government started the prisons reforms in 2011 so that prison facilities can transform into correctional facilities where inmates will be rehabilitated into better citizens.

The President has since hinted that during his 5 year term, there will be total transformation of prisons into correctional facilities that will make inmates change into better citizens after serving their prison sentence.

The President was speaking when he donated computers, cookers and fridges to Lusaka Central Prison in Lusaka.

The President donated 50 computers, 6 electrical pots, 4 deep fridges, 4 upright fridges, 4 stoves and chitenge materials for women inmates.

Kamwala remand prison will also benefit 2 out of the 6 donated electrical pots, a fridge and a scale for the clinic which is within Kamwala correctional facility.

And Zambia Correctional Service Commissioner General Percy Chato has described President Lungu as the champion of prison reforms in Zambia.

Mr. Chato noted that for the reforms to be effective in prisons there should a champion to affect them saying President Lungu has since his ascendency to power been driving the reforms.

The Commissioner General commended the President for the donations and pledged the commitment of the correctional service in ensuring that government’s effort to transform the prisons service is supported and actualized.

The head of state recently visited Lusaka Central and Kamwala Remand correctional facilities and pledged to donate equipment which he has since honoured yesterday.