Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, on the occasion of Africa Day, announced his quest towards abolishing the death penalty. According to the President, the concept of death penalty is an archaic one and holds no significance. This announcement from the Zambian President has received widespread support from Zambians as well as several from Africa. One of the top businessmen and philanthropists from Zambia, Dr. Rajan Lekhraj Mahtani, has also supported this announcement. Dr. Mahtani further stated that his company Prison Fellowship will provide full legal and regulatory support towards ensuring that this announcement from the President sees the light of day.
Dr. Rajan Mahtani is one of the most respected and regarded businessmen from Zambia. Apart from his successful business operations, he is also known for his philanthropic achievements. 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. In a similar manner, Dr. Rajan Mahtani founded Prison Fellowship works towards welfare of the Zambian prisoners by providing them with transparent criminal justice, fundamental human rights, basic human dignity as well as bringing them closer to redemption with teachings from Jesus Christ.
Dr. Rajan Lekhraj Mahtani iterated that there are hundreds of prisoners across Zambian prisons awaiting death penalty and these prisoners are already living a life of punishment as they are not aware of their last day on this planet. Furthermore, the condition of some of the maximum prisons across Zambia is extremely degrading with several prisoners devoid of even basic human dignity. As such, the government of Zambia has started an initiative of strategic decongestion of prisoners by collaborating with institutions such as Parole Board Zambia and Correctional Facility. Among these initiatives, giving capital punishment to prisoners already living life in hell makes no sense. The last capital punishment was given in the year 1997 and since then, Zambian Presidents have been using mercy prerogatives for avoiding death penalty. As such, the decision from the Zambian President is a step in the right direction.