By MOFFAT CHAZINGWA –
FORMER Defence minister George Mpombo has thanked Government for pardoning and releasing him from prison.
Mr Mpombo has also urged Government to hasten improvements to conditions in prisons because they were still in a poor state.
He said in an interview that he had emerged from prison more energised and ready to get back in the political arena.
Although prison life was restrictive, there was never a moment when he felt sad during the time of his incarceration, stressing that his body could have been in prison, but his soul and mind were outside.
Mr Mpombo, who bemoaned the state of prisons, called on Government to improve the conditions for prisoners.
There was still room for the State to improve various aspects of the prisons and inmates.
Mr Mpombo said he had renewed vigor to rejoin politics and would soon announce which political party he would be backing after making consultations with his family members.
He said going by the exciting political landscape, the country was headed for a good election next year.
The political landscape was now beginning to shape up well especially with the restored unity in the ruling Patriotic Front (PF).
“We had what I can say political insanity but things are now looking good and healthy for an election following the reconciliation in the PF and I feel the political landscape is exciting and can produce a
normal election outcome,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mufumbwe Member of Parliament (MP) Stephen Masumba who was also released from prison on presidential pardon said he owed his release to God.
Mr Masumba who was released from prison on Christmas Day said what God has done for him was tremendous.
He said in an interview yesterday that prison was not a place one would want to talk about because being there is more like hell on earth.
“Sometimes it looks simple when you see another person in prison or in a uniform but you can only feel it when you are subjected to that experience personally,” he said.
Mr Masumba said his incarceration the last few months, had not been easy because of the pathetic condition in prison where even lice is the order of the day.
He was however convinced that God had a purpose for him to be incarcerated as he had come out a more knowledgeable person to even speak a good testimony about prison.