By ROGERS KALERO
INMATES at Kamfisa inmates have petitioned government to consider reducing sentences being served as a way of improving their welfare and decongesting correctional facilities.
The inmates said yesterday, “ WE turned out in huge numbers on August 12 not only to change the government, but to also ensure that there is an improvement in the welfare of Inmates which include reducing some of their sentences.”
Isaac Njovu, who is serving a sentence of 35 years and has so far done 19 years, said Inmates at Kamfinsa State Correctional Facility were petitioning the republican President Hakainde Hichilema to consider reducing some of their sentences.
Mr Njovu told the Copperbelt Provincial Minister Elisha Matambo when he visited the facility that he should deliver the message to President Hichilema that most of the Inmates had reformed and would be grateful if their sentences were reduced.
“On August 12, 2021 , all the gates at Kamfinsa State Correctional Facility were opened so that we could go and vote. So we turned out in big numbers not only to change the government, but to also ensure that there was an improvement in the welfare of Inmates which include reducing some of their sentences.
“So as Inmates at the Correctional Facility, through you, the Copperbelt Minister, Elisha Matambo, we are petitioning the republican President Hakainde Hichilema to consider reducing our sentences ,” Mr Njovu said.
In response, Mr Matambo said he would deliver the petition to the republican President, while urging them to be strong and have hope that one day they will be released from the correctional facility.
Mr Matambo urged them to be productive once released from the correctional facility, saying the New Dawn ‘ government of President Hichilema has laid a firm foundation for entrepreneurship through the Ministry of Small and Medium Entrepreneurship (SMEs).
“We are all potential candidates for this place. This is why this government of President Hakainde Hichilema has been working hard to improve the welfare of Inmates. So what is important, is that if you are released, you should become productive.
“You should make use or utilise various opportunities which the New Dawn government has put in place to be productive and self sustaining ,” Mr Matambo said
