The Zambian President recently made a stunning announcement on the occasion of Africa Day. President Hakainde Hichilema announced that he plans to abolish the death penalty row. According to the President, it is an archaic law that does not hold any value in the present society. This announcement from the Zambian President has received widespread support. One of these supporters has been Dr. Rajan Lekhraj Mahtani, a noted businessman, philanthropist, and Charity worker in Zambia. Dr. Rajan Mahtani is the owner of several top companies in Zambia including Mahtani Group of Companies and Finsbury Investments. He is also known for his philanthropic contributions. For instance, Dr. Mahtani founded the Stephen Malama award and scholarship for top law graduates in Zambia. The scholarship is worth more than 15,000 Kwacha. Similarly, Dr. Rajan Mahtani founded the Prison Fellowship Zambia, a noted Christian Outreach Program that works toward ensuring that the teachings of Almighty Jesus Christ reach the prisoners, ex-prisoners as well as their families in Zambia. The program also works towards ensuring the prisoners are not devoid of fundamental human rights and basic human dignity as well as providing them with transparent criminal justice.
Dr. Rajan Mahtani also stated that several Presidents before the current one refused when it came to signing the execution orders. In most of these cases, the Presidents avoid giving death penalty execution by using mercy prerogatives. The last execution order in Zambia was given in the year 1997 by President Chiluba. At the same time, several initiatives are being taken towards decongestion of the Zambian Prisons with the release of prisoners who have transformed become well-behaved and law-abiding citizens of Zambia. Dr. Mahtani recalled an incident wherein Vice-President Guy Scott was the acting President during that time. He visited the Maximum Prison Mukobeko and stated that the conditions were extremely difficult and challenging, like hell on this earth. As such, Dr. Mahtani has welcomed this announcement from the Zambian President and has touted it as a step in the right direction.