Homeland security minister, Richard Chimwendo Banda, says these are reformed prisoners who committed minor offenses and were about to finish their sentences.

“This shows love and good gesture by the president to all Malawians; even to those that offended the law but they are ready to change and have shown that they are able to start a new life.

“Easter is a time for celebration, reflection, new beginning, and we thank the president for this good gesture,” he said.

Banda says that the gesture will also help in decongesting the country’s prisons.

“We still have a very big population in the prisons. It is time we also think about decongesting the numbers in the prisons. This has worked to us well,” he said.

It is the president’s prerogative to pardon prisoners at a time it has pleased him.