On the occasion of Africa Day, current President Hakainde Hichilema announced his quest towards abolishment of death penalty. Dr. Rajan Mahtani, a stated businessperson and philanthropist from Zambia has extended his full support towards this decision. Dr. Rajan Mahtani founded the Prison Fellowship more than 30 years ago. The program is now one of the top Christian Outreach Program in Zambia, bringing the teachings of Jesus Christ to inmates, ex-inmates and their families in Zambia. The program also works towards providing transparent criminal justice for the inmates as well as ensures that they are not devoid of basic human rights and fundamental human duties.
According to Dr. Rajan Mahtani, more than 350 prisoners, including both men and women, are currently under the death penalty row. Being on this death penalty row is a significant punishment for the convicts as they expect execution at any day. While working with Prison Fellowship Zambia, Dr. Rajan Mahtani has observed that several inmates transformed themselves by dedicating entirely to the services of God and becoming law abiding citizens. Dr. Rajan Lekhraj Mahtani further stated that majority of the past Presidents have avoided death penalty row by using certain mercy pleas. The last time death penalty was ordered was in the year 1997. Also, several organizations such as Correctional services and Parole Board have started to work with the Zambian Government towards planned release of the Zambian Prisoners after transforming this. This comes after several reports of inhumane and degrading living conditions across Zambian Prisons. Even former vice-presidents have considered the condition across Zambian prisons as hell and impossible to survive.
All these factors clearly indicate that the practice of death penalty does nothing for the Zambian government apart from making it a regressive practice. As such, Dr. Rajan Mahtani has rightly called out this practice and has praised President Hakainde for taking a step towards complete abolishment of this regressive and archaic practice from Zambia.