Malawi President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera has earned praise from the Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) for pardoning Jones Tewesa driver to former Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), Linda Kunje.
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Tewesa was jailed for blocking President Chakwera’s convoy following an instruction from Kunje.
While Kunje was pardoned in December 2022, the driver remained behind bars, a development that prompted CHRR to plead with the President to forgive him as well in ensuring that justice is served for both convicts.
As if listening to the call from CHRR, President Chakwera on Easter Monday pardoned 200 prisoners, including Tewesa, Mussa John and former Minister of Homeland Security Uladi Mussa.
Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Homeland Security, Oliver Kumbambe, in a statement issued on Monday evening, disclosed that the pardoned inmates had met the requirements of the guidelines for the Granting of Pardon to Convicted prisoners and have demonstrated good behavioral reform while serving their sentences.
“The pardon of the 200 prisoners by His Excellency the State President in an act of mercy during the Easter Holiday,” concluded his statement Kumbambe.
In his reaction to the news on Monday, CHRR Executive Director Michael Kaiyatsa described the development as highly commendable, stressing that President Chakwera had demonstrated that he is committed to ensuring that there is equali justice for all irrespective of their social and economic standing in the society.
“As you might be aware, CHRR wrote the President to pardon him, but we were worried when we saw that only Kunje was pardoned, leaving her driver behind. So, we are very excited with news that finally Tewesa has been pardoned. We commended the President for ensuring that justice is served on every person, including the less privileged,” he reacted.
