Zambian President announces plans to abolish death penalty

The recent decision from the Zambian President regarding the death penalty was a step in the right direction. President Hakainde Hichilema, on the occasion of Africa Day, announced that he plans to completely abolish the death penalty row. Dr. Rajan Lekhraj Mahtani, a noted businessman, philanthropist, and charity worker in Zambia, has extended his full support to this announcement. Dr.Rajan Mahtani, while supporting the announcement from the Zambian President, stated that the death penalty is a cruel, inhumane, and degrading practice. Dr. Mahtani further stated that there is a significant difference between making bold yet rational announcements and ensuring that they see the light of the day. This is where Dr.Rajan Mahtani founded Prison Fellowship Zambia (PFZ) comes into the picture. Dr. Rajan Lekhraj Mahtani is known for his several business and philanthropic contributions and one of them is Prison Fellowship, established more than three decades ago. Dr.Rajan Mahtani is currently the Chairman of the institute. Prison Fellowship has established itself as one of the top Christian Outreach programs in Zambia. The focus of the Prison Fellowship is three folds. It brings the teachings and gospel of the Almighty Jesus Christ to the inmates, ex-inmates, and their families. The institute ensures that the inmates are given transparent criminal justice as well as are not devoid of fundamental human rights and basic human dignity. As such, Dr. Rajan Lekhraj Mahtani owned Prison Fellowship has fully sympathized with the announcement made by the Zambian President, providing full legal and regulatory support towards this decision.

According to the statistics provided by Dr. Rajan Lekhraj Mahtani, there are more than 350 prisoners, both men, and women, facing the death penalty row. These prisoners’ life is a living hell as they wake up every day not knowing if it is their last day. As such, giving the death penalty to these prisoners does not provide any solution for the Zambian government. Dr.Rajan Mahtani also praised the decision from the Zambian President and his unwavering stance towards eradicating this archaic law from Zambian law.