Home Affairs Minister has disclosed that President Edgar Lungu has exercised his prerogative of mercy on 130 ordinary inmates to celebrate Christmas Day.

Addressing the Media in Mansa, Stephen Kampyongo said among the pardoned, 17 are female and 113 are male.

Mr. Kampyongo notes that in 2020 alone a cumulative number of 4,329 inmates where pardon by the Head of State in exercise of the prerogative of Mercy pursuant to Article 97 of the Constitution of the Republic of Zambia.

He says breakdown of inmates pardoned were on Africa’s freedom day, 56th Independence Anniversary and Christmas Day which falls tomorrow the 25th of December 2020.

“3, 223 inmates were released to commemorate Africa’s freedom day which fell on 25th May 2020, 966 inmates were released to commemorate 56th independence Anniversary which fell on the 24th of October 2020 and 130 am announcing today have been pardoned to commemorate Christmas day which falls tomorrow on the 25th of December 2020.”

The Minister said the pardoning of the 130 ordinary inmates will greatly help to decongest the already congested correctional centers and increase social distancing among inmates. He disclosed that to date, no Covid-19 case has been recorded in correctional centers throughout the country.