The Zambia Correctional Service (ZCS) wishes to address public concerns arising from recent media reports regarding a woman whose child is alleged to have been defiled by Mr. Winston Kabinda, a former inmate of Mukobeko Maximum Security Prisons and Correctional Centre.
On 2nd November 2022, the woman, then aged 31 and residing at House No. B35, B Company, Chindwin Barracks in Kabwe, sought an audience with the Honourable Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security to register her complaint. She informed the Ministry that she was employed by the Zambia Army as a Classified Daily Employee (CDE), working as a cook at Chindwin Barracks.
She stated that in 2018, her then four-year-old daughter was defiled by Mr. Winston Kabinda, who had been sentenced to 30 years imprisonment in 2018 but was released in 2020 under a Presidential Amnesty. She further informed authorities that Mr. Kabinda now resides in Kaloko Compound, Ndola.
According to the woman, her daughter—now aged nine—continues to suffer from trauma, memory loss, and depression, resulting in poor school performance. The child has been undergoing regular medical reviews at Arthur Davison Children’s Hospital in Ndola every three months. Fortunately, medical reports confirm she did not contract HIV/AIDS as a result of the incident.
The mother to the girl made the following requests:
1.That her daughter be enrolled in a special school due to her inability to progress academically as a result of trauma, and that she be provided with counselling services.
2.Financial assistance to cover transport for attending special education and psycho-social counselling.
3.Clarification on the criteria used to pardon Mr. Winston Kabinda.On 3rd November 2022, the woman was referred to the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services for further management of the matter.
However, while the case raises serious concerns, some sections of the media and certain political actors have issued misleading statements suggesting that the current Government and the Zambia Correctional Service Command were responsible for Mr. Kabinda’s release.
To set the record straight:
1. Male Convict KBW/496/18, Mr. Winston Kabinda, was pardoned on 25th May 2020 at the age of 72.
2. He was admitted to prison on 30th July 2018 at the age of 70.His release was effected through Gazette Notice No. 6874 dated Friday, 22nd May 2020.
At that time, the current President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, the current Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, Hon. Jack Mwiimbu, SC, MP, and the current Zambia Correctional Service Command had not assumed office.
The Presidential Prerogative of Mercy is enshrined in Article 97 of the Constitution of Zambia, granting the Head of State the authority to pardon any convicted person. Rule 140 of the Prisons Rules outlines that an inmate must have served at least one year of their sentence and demonstrated rehabilitation or meritorious conduct. Other considerations include exhaustion of appeal processes. Such pardons are often granted on designated occasions such as Africa Freedom Day (25th May).
Mr. Kabinda’s release was executed under the Patriotic Front (PF) Government in line with the Zambia Prisons Service Act, Chapter 97 of the Laws of Zambia, which was in effect at the time.
The Zambia Correctional Service remains committed to upholding the dignity and rights of children, ensuring public safety, and adhering to strict rehabilitation and reintegration guidelines. Any suggestion that the New Dawn Government or the current Command was involved in this 2020 release is unfounded and should be dismissed as misinformation.
Issued by:Cornelius MwanzaSuperintendent – Public Relations Officercorneliusmwanza@gmail.comZAMBIA CORRECTIONAL SERVICE HEADQUARTERS LUSAKA