The Zambian Government has removed 246 inmates who were on death row, while commuted their sentences to life imprisonment.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Home Affairs Stephen Kampyongo during an event held at Mukobeko Maximum Prison in central Zambia’s Kabwe town which was streamed live on Facebook on Wednesday.
According to him, “Among among the inmates includes 225 males and 21 females. This made the clemency of death to life sentences over 500 after 332 inmates had their sentences commuted in 2015.
“The commutation of sentences of inmates would help to congest the section of condemned inmates at the prison which was meant for 50 people but now has over 400 inmates”, he said.
He added that this move, was also meant to protect inmates from contracting COVID-19. “In spite of the death penalty being on the country’s statutes, Zambia has not carried any execution since 1997”, he said.
Photo Credit Google: Zambian President, Edgar Lungu
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