PRESIDENTIAL PARDONS
By Dickson Jere
You see, Presidents don’t go around prisons looking for those to be pardoned. That is done by the system through prisons authorities or Zambia Correctional Services (ZCS).
Usually, there is even committee under the Office of the Vice-President that deals with Prerogative of Mercy applications. By the time the list hits the President desk, it is assumed that the vetting process was thorough especially from the ZCS side.
So, for a child rapist who was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment to be released after just serving a year, is what is problem.
How did he find himself on that list? There have been several stories about favouritism and so so when it comes to ZCS list…I have had such reports from even my clients before.
The statement by ZCS is not actually helping anything but rather annoying. Why and how did this 72 years old rapist found himself on the list in the first place? What was special about him? Poor health perhaps? Old age? That is what ZCS should be telling us and not when it was done! Whether it was done in 2020, 2021 or 2026, it is not the point. Why did ZCS put him on that list? Why?
Simply, we are questioning the ZCS decision and not the President. Why did you recommend a child rapist to be given Presidential pardon? Why?
Exactly the point. This shows how rotten the system is. Nits not about which president did the pardon but how the process of creating the list was done. Who was vetting the names? Who approved the list? What were the reasons given as to why one deserved a presidential pardon? These are vital questions ZCS should be explaining to us not that nonsense
No!The question of timing is also important.If the system is rotten,then who let it rot, when and then why.
Ladies,that’s how rotten PF was.I means they bought 40 red wheelbarrows at $1million each! !!.Why?
Imwe! Castration is the only answer to teach such disgusting people a lesson! Release them after such a short term after defiling an innocent child on condition that they get castrated. PERIOD! If not, they stay caged for the longest time possible and throw away the key! That’s the only way. Let us advocate for this law. In Saudi Arabia there are no thieves because hands are chopped off after you’re caught. I don’t think it’s rocket science. Pure logic. Enough is enough!
How objective are we? Is the point Dickson suggest. We want to hide by making irrational statements and say that we are being objective. Here is a simple question. What critrion was use? Simple question. Waffling and saying that is a response in simply an insult to the intelligence.
The other thing is we want to substitue emotional responses and not ask if that is an adequate justification for being rational and objective in our response.
From Kambwili and GBM being released to this man. All guilty of the crimes that they committed. Yet, we want to use emotions to justify their release from prison.
Is this just? Is this fair to use such benchmarks to release convicts? How about those the suffer quietly, with their illnesses. Katele Kalumba so sick that he was released yet, was seen at a traditional ceremony. If he can go to this ceremony why can he not serve his sentence? GBM was said to be too ill to serve and was released to go and get medical assistance. Yet, he was seen at the Memorial service of Edgar Lungu in South Africa.
One has to ask the manner decisions are arrived at by those charged to make these decisions. Are they objective? Or use emotions as a basis to arrive at a decision when pressured? We insult the law, the process and the individuals that work hard to enforce the law when we find ways to undermine the same laws and this 72 year old man is released.
Thank you Dickson. Thank you to those that have spoken up on this. Until we speak up. Our systems we forever be undermined. Wrongs will never be made right. Those that work in these systems need to learn or be removed if their aim is to undermine the intent of the law and system.