Only one female out of 49 prisoners from Eastern Province was granted amnesty by President Michael Sata during this year’s Africa Freedom Day commemoration.
This has been confirmed to Breeze News, by the Prisons Regional Commander, Paul Mwizabi.
Mr. Mwizabi explained that most women do not get pardoned because they get lighter sentences.
Mr. Mwizabi adds that for a prisoner to be pardoned by the head of state, they must have served three quarters of their sentence.
Out of the 49 that were pardoned, 13 prisoners are from Nyimba, 12 from Chipata, 9 from Petauke while 8 are from 8 from Lundazi.
Katete had the least number of 7 inmates released.