President of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, made a special announcement on the occasion of Africa Day. Africa Day is celebrated on 25th May and on this day, Zambian President announced his plans to abolish the death penalty sentence. This announcement received significant support from across the nation, including noted businessman and philanthropist Dr. Rajan Lekhraj Mahtani. Dr. Rajan Lekhraj Mahtani claims that the death sentence is unjust from a theological perspective as well as from a political and social one. Dr. Rajan Mahtani emphasized that there are almost 400 male and female inmates in Zambian prisons who are now on death row. These are the convicts who wake up each day unsure of whether it will be their last. As a result, they already lead a life of desperation and punishment, so it would be absurd to sentence them to death. At the same time, there is a growing awareness of the abolition of the death penalty around the world, and this knowledge is also seen in Zambia. As such, giving a death sentence does not make any sense in this modern world.
The last time the death sentence was applied in Zambia was in the year 1997. Previous administrations have been strategically avoiding the death penalty. Meanwhile, previous visits from prominent figures have exposed the appalling circumstances in Zambian prisons, particularly the Maximum jails where inmates lack even the most basic human decency and fundamental rights. Due to this, the Zambian government has been working with organizations like the Zambian Correctional Facilities and the Parole Board Zambia (PBZ) to release criminals into society only after they have undergone a complete change and become model citizens. As a result, the idea of the death penalty does not significantly alter Zambian law and must be eliminated. Furthermore, Dr. Rajan Mahtani also iterated that his company Prison Fellowship Zambia will provide full legal and regulatory support towards ensuring that the decision from the Zambian President becomes reality soon.