Wed, 26 Apr 2017 12:14:09 +0000
By KALOBWE BWALYA
FREELANCE journalist Chanda Chimba III has walked to freedom following the exercise of presidential prerogative of mercy by President Edgar Lungu.
Zambia Correctional Services Commissioner General Percy Chato confirmed to the Daily Nation the release of Mr Chimba who has been freed on compassionate grounds.
Mr. Chato said Mr. Chimba was released last Thursday together with 29 other inmates in accordance with Section 1118 which deals with the release of terminally ill patients.
“Chanda Chimba was released last week on Thursday together with 29 other inmates; 19 from Kabwe Medium, nine from Kabwe Maximum and one female,’’ he said. During his visit to Northern Province, President Lungu announced at a rally in Mbala that he was likely to exercise his prerogative of mercy and pardon Chimba as he was reported to be battling with cancer.
President Lungu also emphasized that this was the only constitutionally approved intervention he could make as Head of State after a court conviction was secured. He was responding to calls for him to intervene and release opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema who had just been arrested and charged with treason.
And Mr Chimba the 111 has thanked President Lungu for pardoning him, adding that he spent most of his time at the Cancer Diseases Hospital in Lusaka.
Mr Chimba urged Zambians to avoid crime as the conditions in prison were not good and wished President Lungu well as he governs the country.
Mr Chimba was jailed for two years in November 2016. after being convicted for disposing off property suspected to have been obtained from unlawful sources. In 2011, Mr Chimba produced the highly defamatory articles against then opposition leader, the late President Michael Sata, the Catholic Church leaders and others for the benefit of the then ruling MMD, using suspected public resources.
