Malawi President Mutharika pardons 268 prisoners

As part of activities commemorating Malawi’s 51 years of independence on Monday July 6, President Peter Mutharika has pardoned 268 prisoners.

According to a statement from Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security said those pardoned “have served at least half of their prison sentences, with good behaviour and were not convicted of serious offences.”

Government said the pardon of the prisoners is a symbol of forgiveness as the country commemorates its independence.

The pardoning of prisoners is common in Malawi during independence celebrations, as well as at Easter and Christmas.

The country’s 23 prisons are notorious for the poor conditions in which inmates are kept. They currently hold some 12 000 inmates – double their capacity – and a former top judge has described them as “hell on earth”.

This year’s main independence celebration activities will take place in the Southern Region to be hosted in Blantyre City and president Mutharika is expected to grace the occasion which will also feature a football match between Malawi and Uganda.