TANZANIA: President Kikwete pardons 3,814 prisoners

Written by DAILY NEWS Reporter

PRESIDENT Jakaya Kikwete on Sunday pardoned 3,814 prisoners on the occasion of the 51st independence anniversary of the Tanzania Mainland, the Minister for Home Affairs, Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi, said in a statement.

“The government hopes that those who will be set free are going to join the society in building the nation and avoid crime so that they don’t go back to prison,” he said. Those who have benefited from the presidential clemency include those serving imprisonment terms not exceeding five years and had so far served at least a quarter of the sentence.

Others are those suffering from life-threatening diseases such as HIV/Aids, TB and cancer and their conditions are at terminal stage. However, inmates in this category must be approved by a panel of medical experts led by regional or district medical officer to be released.

Also pardoned are the erlderly above 70 years, but their ages have to be verified by a panel of medical experts led by a regional or district medical officer. The clemency also covers pregnant and lactating women, as well as those with physical and mental disability.

The statement, however, underscored that the pardon does not cover those on death row, serving life term and those convicted of offences related to carjacking, destruction of infrastructure, drug trafficking and use or trading in narcotic substances.

Also excluded are prisoners convicted of crimes related to graft, armed robbery or robbery with violence, as well as offences linked to firearms, sexual offences and making school children pregnant. Regular offenders, escapees and inmates convicted of abuse of office and those who are in jail for preventing their children to go to school are not among the pardoned.

Source: Daily News (10/12/2012): http://www.dailynews.co.tz/index.php/local-news/12510-kikwete-pardons-3-814-prisoners