Calls intensify for the review of laws on prisoner pardons

Critics are demanding a review of laws governing the pardoning of prisoners to ensure greater transparency.

This follows allegations that undeserving prisoners, including those convicted of serious crimes, have been pardoned.

During Easter celebrations, President Lazarus Chakwera pardoned 21 inmates serving various sentences across the country’s prisons.

However, authorities have kept the names of the pardoned prisoners secret, citing security and privacy concerns.

Speaking to Capital FM, Vice Chairperson of the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC), Michael Kaiyatsa, insisted that authorities often use such opportunities to release undeserving prisoners, emphasizing the need for greater transparency in the process.

“This is something the country should be worried about because anything that smacks of secrecy creates room for corruption and abuse. We need to ensure transparency in every process carried out by the president and the government, hence the need for these laws to be reviewed,” said Kaiyatsa.

Also weighing in was National Advocacy Platform Chairperson Benedicto Kondowe, who noted:

“There must be total compliance with the procedures and criteria that ought to be used in determining who should be pardoned.”

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Jayne Kaonga

Jane Kaonga is a professional journalist based in Blantyre, Malawi. She has over 10 years of experience in media industry. She mostly reports on political, governance and social issues.

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