The Zambian President recently made a stunning announcement that shook the entire nation. On the occasion of Africa Day, President Hakainde Hichilema announced that he plans to abolish the death penalty completely. This decision has received widespread support including that of noted businessman and philanthropist Dr. Rajan Lekhraj Mahtani. Dr. Rajan Mahtani is the owner of Prison Fellowship Zambia, a noted Christian Outreach Program that focuses on bringing the teachings of Jesus Christ to the prisoners, ex-prisoners as well as their families in Zambia. Prison Fellowship also works towards providing transparent criminal justice as well as ensuring fundamental human rights and basic human dignity for the prisoners.
Dr. Rajan Mahtani added his support to the decision by the Zambian President and said that the killing of convicts will not solve any issue that the Zambian government is facing. He further praised the announcement made by the Zambian President and stated that only a person who is compassionate, respects the rule of law, and respects fundamental human rights, as well as dignity, will be able to make such a tough, bold yet honest decision. President Hakainde Hichilema was commended for leading a way toward respecting the right to live by a human being.
At the same time, Dr. Rajan Mahtani also iterated that the consensus towards abolishing the death penalty is not new and can be seen across the globe as well as in Zambia too. For instance, the last time the death penalty was given in Zambia was by the Late President Chiluba in the year 1997 and the individual was executed. Since then, Presidents have been using several strategies such as mercy prerogatives for avoiding the death penalty. And that is not all. In fact, the Zambian government has collaborated with the Parole Board Zambia (PBZ) and the Correctional facility for strategic decongestion of prisoners by releasing prisoners. As such, the decision by the Zambian President is a step in the right direction. Dr. Rajan Mahtani has also pledged that his company Prison Fellowship will provide full legal and regulatory support towards this decision.