Mutharika pardons 160 convicts from Malawi’s crowded prisons
President Peter Mutharika has pardoned 160 prisoners from the country’s 23 crowded prisons.
Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Henry Mussa said the President pardoned the prisoners in exercising his powers rendering to the Constitution of Malawi.
He said Article VIII, Section 89, of the Malawi Constitution states that, the President in consultation with an advisory committee may pardon convicted offenders.
“It is within the constitution that the President can make such decision with no specifications on time and occasion,” Mussa said.
The pardon excludes criminals facing serious charges such as rape or sexual offences against young girls, carjacking, armed robbery and murder.
Malawi Prison spokesperson Chimwemwe Mike Shaba said the pardoned prisoners had committed minor cases and had served at least half of their sentences, in addition to their good behavior during their incarceration.
“This action has helped to decongest prisons in regard to the problem of congestion of prisons which Malawi is currently facing,” Shaba said.
He added that the conduct would help to instill discipline among inmates with hope to be considered next time.
Prisons in Malawi, which hold about 13 000 inmates, almost double their capacity, have been described as hell on earth because of their appalling conditions.
Traditionally, President pardons prisoners on public holidays such as Christmas and Independence days.
Last year, Mutharika pardoned 173 prisoners during Independence Day celebrations.
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Ayamba kale kubvuta. This is a bad time to release them. My friends were hacked last week by thugs who are terrorizing bottlestores in machinjiri area of mkwate madulira. The situation is bad. I would like to warn fellow drinkers to be careful at night. These pardoned criminals are serious thugs. There are hitting bottlestores taking away phones and cash.
But why do you send them to jail in the first place? Sometimes it is better to give those with minor offenses a community service or a suspended sentence. Our courts sometimes can be excessive in meting sentences
160 votes? if I were him, I would make it 1,600,00, don’t ask me where am I getting this number, some are in prison of poverty, prison of sickness there is no medicine in hospitals, some are in prison of freedom to smile because of his Government and the DPP, some are in prison of marriage, some in prison of luck of clean water,some are in prison of backing the wrong rulers.
Because I have said the truth, some one will respond me,.
Bravo, Your Excellency, for pardoning these prisoners. Clear the cells so that there should be enough space for apumbwa in 2019…Kkkkk!!!
clearing the cells for himself and other pumbwas KKKK
Koma uyu ndiye adzapitakodi m’mene ndikumuwonera Chilima. This guy is serious. Tiwone zosinthika. No sympathy for anyone. Na apumbwa ndiye ndidzakhalapo pozawaperekeza.