Khama to free prisoners
Tefo Pheage | Friday September 16, 2016 14:52
Mmegi has learnt that there are plans already underway to release the prisoners in a move that is expected to reduce overcrowding and reward good conduct in prisons.
Khama‘s largest release of prisoners was in 2008 when he pardoned over 1,000 prisoners a few months after taking the Presidency, The following year he freed 15 long servers.
The President is expected to free foreign prisoners who are HIV-positive in what will be seen as economically wise and humane exercise of his powers.
In 2008, Khama also released some foreign convicts. The initiative only applied once all procedures for their return to their countries of origin had been finalised.
According to the Prisons and Rehabilitation Act, the Commissioner is empowered to restore forfeited remission in whole or in part.
The Act further says that the Minister shall consider every recommendation made to him and then submit it to the President together with his own recommendation.
The Prisons service spokesperson, Wamorena Ramolefhe in a brief interview with Mmegi said: “Nothing official on the matter has been discussed and issued for me to make a comment on”.
Stakeholders such as Ditshwanelo say their eyes are fixed on the President’s parameters of release which normally determine who is freed and not. The Human Rights group has been complaining about overcrowding in prisons while the Botswana Institute of Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Offenders (BIRRO) has been vociferous about poor rehabilitation structures, secrecy and offender-victim issues.
BIRRO director, Mothei Sejakgomo said while they are happy that the President often considers prisoners, their view has always been that it does not help to free prisoners who will continue to be ‘imprisoned’ outside prisons walls because of their criminal records and the government’s reluctance to connect the victims and offenders.
“We have always shared our views with the government on prisoner issues and concerns, but it has been slow. One of our concerns is that despite the good job that we are doing, the support we are getting from the government is not satisfactory,” he said.
In 2008, Khama released many who were serving minor sentences and reduced sentences for many who were serving major sentences.
Those who benefitted were some who are extra mural convicts and first offenders.
The President’s dispensation also relieved second offenders and repeat offenders, except those serving sentences for serious offences who had a quarter of their remaining sentences put aside. Convicts serving life imprisonment and having served 15 years or more, possessing outstanding conduct were also released with the President making determinations on those.