Leader Of Opposition Plead With Chakwera To Pardon Mussa and Kunje

Leader of Opposition In Parliament, Kondwani Nankhumwa has written the state President, Lazarus Chakwera to consider pardoning John Mussah and Linda Kunje.

The Leader of Opposition’s request comes at a time when there are numerous calls from various Civil Society Organizations (CSO) calling on the head of state to consider an immediate release of the two convicts from prison.

“I humbly write to you to add my voice to the growing calls requesting your Exellency Sir, to consider pardoning 19 year old, Mussa John and also former MEC Commissioner, Linda Kunje,” reads part of Nankhumwa’s letter

The Leader of Opposition reminded the head of state that the 20 year old John Mussa is serving a three-year prison sentence for being found in possession of Cannabis Sativa while Linda Kunje was convicted of criminal recklessness and negligence after obstructing his convoy.

In his letter, titled, ‘An Appeal to Pardon John Mussa and Commissioner Kunje,’  Nankhumwa said some people who were previously convicted on similar offences like Kunje and Mussa or even worse, walked out with fines

But responding to the Leader of Opposition’s plea on MBC television, the Attorney General, Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda said there are guidelines and procedures the President follows before pardoning inmates, and not doing the same under external pressure

“The pardon procedures under the pardon guidelines dictate that the inmate to be pardoned should serve at least half of the sentence apart from showing good behaviour.

However, the AG’s response is quite contrary to the 2005 scenario when the former president, late Bingu wa Mutharika pardoned the late Senior Chief Chikowi when he was just about to enter the Zomba Maximum Prison gates when he was convicted by the Court.

Senior Resident Magistrate, Anafi Likwanya  convicted the Senior chief of ‘Unlawful obtaining fertilizer coupon’ and the Chief was on his way to Zomba Maximum Prison, then Zomba City Parliamentarian, Yunus Mussa called Bingu who right away pardoned Senior chief chikowi before entering the prison gate.

Commissioner Kunje was convicted last month of criminal recklessness and negligence after obstructing the presidential convoy in 2020 and is currently serving an 18-month  jail sentence.