Zambia President Edgar Lungu on his 63rd birthday has pardoned three high profile prisoners.
However, the presidency releases a statement confirming the release of the five prisoners.
Meanwhile, Lungu picked the prisoners he released from various correctional facilities.
Moreover, the prisoners pardoned include a former minister, a journalist and an ex-air force commander.
In essence, the statement reads in part as follows:
“The president has pardoned Chief Molunge, Former Minister in the movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMO) Government, Maxwell Mwale, Journalist Derrick Sinjela, Afunba Mombotwa, and Christopher Singogo, Former Zambian Commander.
“The President’s action is in line with article 97 of the constitution of Zambia chapter (1) of the laws of Zambia which provides for president pardon and substitution of severe punishments imposed on the convicted”.
Besides, the president hinted about the release of the proprietor of Rainbow Newspaper last week.
After all, Lungu promised to review Sinjela’s sentence while speaking with journalists during a media conference at the Presidency.
Occasionally, most Presidents across Africa offered pardon to certain categories of convicts, especially during the Independence Day commemoration.
In some cases, sentences are reduced and death sentences are commuted to life imprisonment.