2 former female jailbirds appeal for help
Written by Millennium on July 27, 2019
LINDA SOKO TEMBO writes
TWO former female inmates in Lusaka have appealed to government to empower them so that they can do something meaningful with their lives.
They said life was difficult after they were released from prison because they did not have any form of empowerment.
In an interview with the Sun, one of the former inmates Prudence Palanga said she found herself in prison after her husband was involved in a case of aggravated robbery and was also linked to the same case.
She went to prison on November 2015 when she was five months pregnant and was jailed for two years six months before she was acquitted on May 20, 2018 while the husband was jailed for 15 years.
“I was arrested together with my husband in November 2015 while I was five months pregnant and I was in prison for two years six months. I lived with my child in prison and my husband was sentenced to 15 years for aggravated robbery.
“Things were not easy while in prison. We had people and originations that helped us such as Mother of Million, the church, police officers and other well-wishers,” she said.
The former inmate said from the time she was acquitted life was not the same for her as she had difficulties starting a business because most people were not willing to help and some still thought she was a criminal that could not be trusted.
Meanwhile another ex-prisoner Mercy Kavulayi who was in prison for two years one month for beating up a child’s neighbor and was pardoned in May this year, said life was difficult after leaving prison.
Ms Kavulayi who is currently living with her mother in law said when she came out things were not the same with her.
She has three children who are not going to school because of serious financial constraints she was facing.
“I was pardoned in May this year. I was supposed to be there for three years four months. I was in prison for beating the child of my neighbor. Life is difficult I want two of children to go school. I am a hair dresser by profession but it is difficult to find a job,” she said.
Ms Kavulayi appealed to government and well-wishers to come on board and help ex-prisoners to start a new life to avoid them doing things that would led them to go back to prison.
