PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has pardoned and released three male prisoners who were jailed for three years for publication of false news with intent to cause fear and alarm to the general public.
Wasilota Sikwibele, 35, Nayota Mwenda, 32, and 37-year-old Boris Muziba were convicted by Kaoma magistrate Julius Malata in August last year after finding them guilty of the offence.
However, in exercising his Prerogative of Mercy pursuant to Article 59 (a) of the Constitution, Mr Lungu signed the Order of Release for the trio.
This is according to a statement released in Lusaka yesterday by Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda.
Mr Chanda said Mr Lungu’s decision was in line with the request of the Zambia Prisons Service to release the three prisoners who were part of the group agitating for the secession of Barotseland.
“The release of the trio under the Presidential Amnesty Release is also in line with the President’s olive branch pursuant to his proclamation of Sunday, 18th October 2015 as the Day of Repentance,
Prayer and Fasting throughout the country,” Mr Chanda said.
Mr Lungu is also expected to release more prisoners under the Presidential Amnesty on October 24 this year, during Zambia’s 51st independence anniversary.
