Tanzanian President releases 5 000 prisoners

As Tanzania marked its 58th anniversary of independence, President, John Magufuli Monday pardoned more than 5,000 prisoners across the country.

Africa Service – Vatican City

In total, President Magufuli released from prison, 5 533 inmates. The announcement was made at the CCM Kirumba Stadium, a multi-purpose stadium in Mwanza, Tanzania.

This year the centre of independence day celebrations was Mwanza. The city of Mwanza is a major port city on Lake Victoria. The lake borders Uganda to the north west, and Kenya to the north east.

In releasing the prisoners, President Magufuli said the country’s prisons were also congested.

“Some of these prisoners are serving jail terms after they were convicted on minor offences like stealing a chicken, or for lack of defence lawyers, or (even) failure to pay fines,” the President said.

According to the President, prisoners who qualified for pardon were those serving one-year jail terms or those serving long jail terms but remained with only one year before the end of their sentences.

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