Founder & current chairman of the Prison Fellowship Zambia (PFZ), Dr. Rajan Lekhraj Mahtani recently extended his full support towards the decision made by the Zambian President. On the occasion of Africa Day, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema announced that his government is planning to abolish the concept of death penalty completely. Prison Fellowship Zambia (PFZ) is a noted Christian Outreach Program focussing on bringing the teachings & gospel of the Almighty Jesus Christ to prisoners, ex-prisoners as well as their families in Zambia. The program also works towards advocating effective and fair criminal justice procedures across Zambia and ensuring that the prisoners and their families are not devoid of fundamental human rights as well as basic human dignity. With these objectives, it was no surprise that Dr. Mahtani owned Prison Fellowship extended their full legal and regulatory support towards ensuring that the decision from the Zambian President becomes a reality soon.
Dr. Rajan Mahtani praised the decision from the Zambian President stating that he was lucky to have met such a person who is compassionate, respects the rule of law’ and respects the fundamental rights of humans. Only then a person will be able to make a such bold yet rational and much-needed decision. Further supporting this announcement, Dr. Mahtani stated that the concept of is the death penalty is archaic and has been abolished across a majority of the nations. Even in African nations, the concept is being abolished. As a result of this increasing trend, the majority of past presidents have avoided the death penalty by giving mercy prerogatives. The last death penalty was given in the year 1997 and the individual was executed. Furthermore, the current condition of Zambian prisons is degrading. At the same time, there have been reports that the condition of the Zambian prisons is extremely pathetic with many prisoners devoid of even fundamental human rights and basic human dignity across some of the maximum prisons. As such, the Zambian government has started strategic decongestion of prisons by releasing prisoners.
In such a scenario, giving death penalty is no longer viable and is against the nation’s social and legal representation. As such, the decision made by the Zambian President is a step in the right direction.