Malawian president pardons jailed former minister on medical grounds

LILONGWE, July 22 (Xinhua) --

Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera has granted a pardon to the country's former Minister of Information and Communications Technology Henry Mussa on poor health grounds, authorities announced Friday.

Mussa, a former Cabinet Minister in the previous Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) led government, had been serving a nine-year jail term after being convicted of conspiracy to steal and for receiving stolen property.

Minister of Homeland Security Kenneth Zikhale Ng'oma confirmed to the local media about the president's pardon, saying that the development is "part of a broader initiative" that includes ten other chronically ill inmates who have also received clemency.

Chimwemwe Shaba, spokesperson for the Malawi Prison Service, welcomed this development and said the move will alleviate the plight of inmates whose health was at stake.

"The President's gesture seeks to foster a spirit of mercy and compassion in the country's justice system, while giving priority to the well-being of those inmates with vulnerable health conditions," the spokesperson said.

The former minister was convicted in October last year together with former Director of Information Gideon Munthali after being found guilty of stealing 10 computers and a stand-by generator belonging to the government.