A catholic clergy in Mansa has called on government to consider changing laws which forbids people who were once convicted to enter the civil service.
Speaking during a Homily yesterday Mansa Diocese Cathedral Administrator Father Kunda Pintu says people should not be prevented from getting employment because of their past mistakes.
Father Pintu says some laws which the country follow today where laws of colonial masters who never wanted Africans to develop and that there is no need to continue following them.
He explained that there are people who truly repent once they come out of correctional facilities and that there is no reason to deny such people employment if an opportunity comes.
He says people are sent to correctional facilities to be corrected and that once they are out of these facilities they need to be embraced and not segregated.
Fr. Pintu observed that the way the community treats people who have been released from incarceration is not good and that is why others find themselves going back to jail because they do not feel loved.
In Zambia the law does not allow an ex – convict to be employed in the civil service
I agree with Father Pintu.
To be employed mwibala lyabani? Are they PF cadres,? There are no overflow jobs.
“Father Pintu says some laws which the country follow today where laws of colonial masters who never wanted Africans to develop and that there is no need to continue following them.”
This is a bit rich coming from a Father who himself is preaching from a book handed to him by the selfsame colonial masters to pull a wool on his own fellow brothers and sisters. Anyway he is right about discriminating ex-cons!!
The civil service being a government structure should be the one place where every citizen should have access if they can’t gain access anywhere else and if they are qualified for the job and the job is available.
Ba Whistlo ! so a criminal can become secretary to cabinet if they repent????
I think it is a good idea because everyone deserves a second chance , my only problem is that there are no jobs in Zambia even for people who have never been inside a prison so how are the ex- convicts going to be employed? Just thinking!!!!!!
Let them work for Lungu at State House or ministers homes.
It’s not only in Zambia, but even in developed Countries like North America where I live. Once you have a criminal record, it’s becomes almost impossible to find a job or access a lot of financial assistance. Sometimes , it takes about 10 yrs for your record to be erased so u can be deemed clean again. Other times, it depends on the institutions that the Govt recognizes that does the “Pardoning of offenders.” No wonder we have a lot of Street adults. So don’t think it’s a colonial law. It’s a deterring measures that reminds everyone that once u find yourself on the wrong side of the law and have your name blacklisted as a criminal, then u must as well be ready to pay the price of your consequences.
Depends on the crime. How can you employ a person who was convicted of fraud? Bad habits die hard. Of course someone convicted of killing by traffic accidents can be excused.
God has for given our sins.why can’t we for give also our fellow flesh.Thanks my people.