Zambia’s ex-defence minister GBM pardoned by President Hichilema on medical grounds amid worsening cancer.

Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema has granted a pardon to former Defence Minister Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba, widely known as GBM, who had been serving a five-year prison sentence for corruption. Mwamba was released on medical grounds following a wave of concern on social media regarding his deteriorating health while in prison.

According to the public broadcaster ZNBC, Security Minister Jack Mwiimbu informed journalists on Thursday that the former minister had submitted a petition to the president in February requesting clemency. As a condition of his release, Mwamba has withdrawn his appeal against the conviction.

Last month, Mwamba applied to the court seeking permission to be released for medical reasons, aiming to travel abroad to receive treatment for worsening prostate cancer. Local reports indicate that his legal team argued that the necessary medical care was not available in Zambia.

Mwamba previously served as Defence Minister from 2011 to 2013 during the administration of President Michael Sata. In 2016, he was the running mate to Hakainde Hichilema in the presidential election, although their bid was unsuccessful.