The Prisoners Care and Counseling Association (PRISCCA) has urged former prisoners that have just been released from various correctional facilities to feel free to visit the association for help.
Reacting to President Edgar Lungu’ decision to pardon nearly 600 inmates on Christmas day, PRISCCA Executive Director Godfrey Malembeka said former prisoners should be helped to re-integrate into society.
Mr. Malembeka has since called on churches, Members of Parliament and traditional leaders to play a role in assisting former prisoners once they are integrated into society.
He added that the society must be ready to welcome former prisoners instead of labeling them with bad names.
He further stated that the pardoned prisoners are fully changed people hence interested groups must not be scared to employ them.
PRISCCA Executive Director said land institutions should also come on board and provide pieces of land to the ex-convicts.
Mr. Malembeka said the piece of which PRISCCA owns in Mumbwa is not sufficient to accommodate the majority of the pardoned prisoners.
He has since thanked President Lungu for pardoning the prisoners and being the first President to visit correctional facilities frequently.
Yesterday, President Lungu exercised his prerogative of mercy and pardoned 593 prisoners at various correctional facilities across the country as a way of commemorating Christmas day.
Among the pardoned inmates, 532 are males while 43 are females.
