Africa-Press – Angola. At least 11 citizens serving sentences ranging from three to six years at the Malanje District Penitentiary were released Tuesday as part of the Presidential Pardon and the commemorations of the 50th anniversary of National Independence.
At least 10 inmates from the same facility received conditional release as part of the pardon. This measure aims to promote social reintegration and enhance human rights within the prison system by offering a new opportunity to those released.
The presiding judge of the Malanje District Court, Rivaldino Van-dúnem, witnessed the act and considered the presidential pardon to be a legal action carried out with clear and rigorous objective criteria and decided by the President of the Republic.
The magistrate stressed that the pardon is not a right for everyone but rather a benefit reserved for those who demonstrated appropriate behavior, took responsibility, and served a significant portion of their sentence while in prison, excluding those convicted of the most serious crimes.
He clarified that, beyond the legal aspect, the pardon carries a human message: recognition that people can change. The pardon exists to correct, protect society, and create conditions so that the mistake is not repeated and the past is not erased.
“Those who benefit from this act receive an opportunity, but also a duty to respect the law and society, proving with their actions that the trust placed in them was deserved. This moment represents a balance between firmness and humanity, justice and dignity,” he explained.
The judge appealed to the released prisoners, urging them to take care of themselves since freedom requires maturity, discipline, and good behavior toward society.
Chinhama Samuel Jamba, director of the Penitentiary Service, said the beneficiaries had been imprisoned for crimes such as robbery, vandalism, and theft of public property.
The beneficiaries stated in a message that this act renews the hope of those who continue to serve their sentences by showing that discipline and good behavior can result in legal benefits. They guaranteed that they would recover lost time and gain the trust of their families and society through good deeds.
The current prison population in the three facilities, Malanje District Prison, Damba Penitentiary, and Cacuso Women’s Prison, is approximately 1,825 inmates, including convicts and detainees.
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