The President of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, made a recent announcement for the entire nation. On the auspicious occasion of Africa Day, President Hakainde Hichilema announced that he is planning to completely abolish the death penalty sentence. It was an eventful day and received widespread support from Zambia and Africa. One of these supporters was Dr. Rajan Lekhraj Mahtani, noted businessperson and philanthropist from Zambia. Dr. Rajan Lekhraj Mahtani is the founder of Prison Fellowship Zambia, a noted Christian Outreach Program developed with the objective of bringing the gospel and teachings of Jesus Christ to the prisoners, ex-prisoners as well as their families in Zambia. Also, the program focusses on providing transparent criminal justice as well as opportunity for fundamental human rights along with fundamental human dignity for the prisoners residing in the Zambian prisons.
Dr. Rajan Mahtani stated that the practice of death penalty is inhumane, degrading and cruel and only a person who is passionate will be able to make such bold yet necessary statements. Dr. Rajan Mahtani further stated that there are more than 380 inmates across Zambian prisons who are awaiting death penalty trial and life is already tough for them. In a similar manner, several prisoners have transformed themselves by dedicating towards the service of the God and have become law abiding citizens. In a similar manner, Dr. Rajan Lekhraj Mahtani highlighted the fact that the condition of the Zambian prisons is extremely degrading with prisoners being denied even basic human dignity and fundamental human rights. There is a lack of basic amenities and past visits to these maximum prisons has revealed hell-like living conditions. These conditions have also prompted the government of Zambia to take action. One such initiative has been decongestion of the Zambian prisons in which institutes such as Correctional facility and Parole Board Zambia strategically release prisoners to society after their complete transformation and remission. As such, the decision from the Zambian President is a step in the right direction.