By Prosper Makene
Dar es Salaam — Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan in marking 58th Union Day has on Tuesday, April 26, granted pardon to a total of 3,826 prisoners.
The United Republic of Tanzania was formed on April 26, 1964 after the Union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.
President Samia’s decision to pardon prisoners on Union Day is continuation of a long-held tradition.
The Home Affairs Minister Eng. Hamad Masauni’s statement released on Tuesday said: “This is an important and historic event for the Nation as we celebrate the 58th Anniversary of the Union of Tanzania.”
He further said that the head of the state’s pardon was granted to the following conditions: (i) All prisoners should be reduced (1/4) of their sentences after the normal reduction of one third (1/3) provided under Section 49 (1) of the Act. of Prisons, Chapter 58.
“The prisoners must have served one quarter (1/4) of their sentence and must have been imprisoned before February 26, 2022 except for the prisoners listed in condition 2 (i – ii),” he said.
The statement noted: “Sick prisoners with chronic illnesses who have served a quarter (1/4) of their sentences and are on Terminal Stage have received the pardon but the diagnosis must be confirmed by a panel of physicians under the chairmanship of the Regional Chief Physician or District Medical Officer.”
Others who received the president’s pardon included older prisoners aged 70 or above seventy years who have served quarters of their sentences.
“Female prisoners who entered the prison with breastfeeding or with children and pregnant women and who also served a quarter of their sentences have been granted a pardon,” Eng. Masauni said.
“Prisoners with physical and mental disabilities who have served a quarter of their sentences, have also received the pardon,” the minister said in a statement.
Another group that received the president’s pardon including the disability but should be confirmed by a panel of physicians under the chairmanship of the Regional Chief Physician or District Medical Officer.
Others who received the pardon are prisoners sentenced to death who have been in prison from thirty (30) years onwards; prisoners serving life imprisonment who have been in prison from twenty (20) years onwards as well as prisoners serving sentences for attempted murder (Attempt to Murder) who have been in prison from ten (10) years onwards.
