Mwembeshi prisoners demand the right to vote

Prisoners at Mwembeshi Maximum Security Prison have petitioned government to allow them to vote in elections while serving their sentences.

The inmates said it was not right for government to disenfranchise them on account of their imprisonment.

Speaking on behalf of 469 fellow prisoners, Kayombo Kayombo said the prisoners were Zambians and should therefore be allowed to exercise their voting rights and elect leaders of their choice to represent them.

Mr. Kayombo made the petition when the Frederick Chomba led Legal and Justice Reform Commission held a public hearing at the maximum security prison.

The prisoner drew cheers and murmurs of approval from fellow inmates when he kept on chanting One Zambia’! One Nation! motto in his petition to the commission.

Mr. Kayombo, who is serving a 20 year prison sentence for murder, urged the commission to ensure that prisoners across the country are allowed to vote in elections.

And speaking at the same occasion, Justice Chomba said it was regrettable and unfortunate that prisoners were not allowed to vote.

He said the law of the land was deficient for excluding prisoners to exercise their right to vote.

Justice Chomba said it was not right that people should be denied their right to vote on account of incarceration.

Zambia has over 18,000 prisoners dotted across the country in various state prisons and do not exercise their voting rights.