As part of the celebrating Malawis 57 th Independence, A total 156 prisoners will released from prison after being pardoned by the country’s Head of State, Lazarus Chakwera.
It has been common practice for heads of state in Malawi just like other countries to pardon some convicts during Christmas and Independence celebrations.
Minister of Homeland Security, Richard Chimwendo Banda, has confirmed the pardoning of the 156 prisoners, saying good behaviour, seriousness of the crime committed and time served are some of the factors considered when pardoning the convicts. Chimwendo Banda added that most of the pardoned prisoners are those whose sentences were coming to an end.
Last year, President Chakwera pardoned 551 inmates, 52 during Christmas and 499 in August to decongest prisons in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
