National News

2 jail breakers surrender themselves

Two prisoners, who made a dramatic escape from Zomba Central Prison on Monday, surrendered themselves to authorities at 5am on Tuesday.

Zomba Central Prison officer-in-charge Fragment Phiri confirmed in an interview that the prisoners hid in an abandoned water tank which is at an elevated point within the prison premises.

The two are serving sentences of house-breaking. One was due for release in 2014 while the other in 2017.

Phiri could not immediately provide details of other escapees who are still at large nor those that have since been rearrested.

The two escaped in the company of their colleagues amid a protest against the pardoning of two inmates at the prison.

Three other prisoners were rearrested on campus, but three others are still at large.

On whether they face charges of unlawful escape, Phiri said police will handle the matter.

But Eastern Region Police spokesperson Thomeck Nyaude said as of Tuesday, there was no official communication from prison authorities; hence, could not say what action police will take.

The prisoners staged a jail break allegedly after being irked by the release of two inmates whose names were on the presidential pardon list, but were serving sentences of manslaughter and rape.

President Joyce Banda on July 6 pardoned 377 prisoners as the country commemorated the 48th Independence Anniversary Celebrations.

But Banda deleted 11 convicts’ names, arguing her administration will not tolerate defilers.

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