Dear all, 

I answer to the name of Job Kasonda Kapita. I am incarcerated in Kabwe. Prior to this I was a Policeman in the Zambia Police Force. It was during he execution of my duty that I got in this horror of a dilemma. I shot and subsequently killed a violent suspicious suspect I wanted to arrest for disorderly conduct at the police station. His verbal provocations, threats and his refusal to be lawfully placed in police cell made it happen. All occurred within the station yard five metres from my office.   I was arrested for murder on 6th October 1994. I was convicted in a bizarre manner to be cruelly hanged by the neck till proved dead on 29th February 1995 at the high court. The judge acted unfairly and exhibited unprofessionalism of the worst manner. There was a difference between witness testimonies at the police and at the court. Being unsatisfied with the conviction and sentence I appealed to our Supreme Court. The Supreme Court upheld the conviction and sentence in 1996. Meanwhile the only option I have remained is to write a petition of mercy to the president of our country.   I am 33 years of age.    I never knew the deceased and therefore had no evil intention to harm him. It was purely a misadventure by the nature of my demanding and dangerous career assigned by the government to maintain law and order. I served in the police force for four years without facing an charge or being implicated in a criminal offence.    

I am looking for pen friends to support me in my situation. Someone who is loving and caring. My hobbies are Judo, Karate, Golf, Chess, reading Christian literature and solving mathematic problems. I will be thankful for any letter.

Job Kasonda Kapita
Maximum Security Prison
Box 80915
Kabwe, Zambia

                                                       Writings And Poetry By Job Kapita

A DAY IN A LIFE OF A CONDEMNED PRISONER

To be hanged by the neck
It brings dreading thoughts
Fears as you see people you find vanished
They are held in the waiting cells till the day of their execution
You only hear shouting voices “okay”
As your friends are led to be executed
Then you hear the sound of hammers
As the prison guards put last nails on the coffin of an executed prisoner
You do not know when your day comes
You cannot sleep
Minutes are like seconds
Hours are like minutes
Days like hours
Years like days
Time flies
Lucky are those who win their case when they appeal
For they are released
It is a dilemma for those of us who lose our cases
We languish for years
You are abandoned by your family
Though they may intend to visit
They can be tired of the regular visits
As they are made to wait to see their loved ones
It takes decades for cases to be considered
The reason is best known to the authorities
We literally have nothing to do

GEMS BEHIND WALLS

In every society
There are our brothers and sisters who are shackled
They are behind walls for misdemeanours and felonies

Dreary as they are they are lampooned by prison guards
Harrowed by the anguish in dungeon
Despised by families

Out of this group
special people can emerge who contribute
to the well-being of the communities.
They can contribute to the upkeep of their families.

Moses,
A fugitive
Was used by God.
He fled from Egypt after killing an Egyptian
God used him to liberate His chosen people.

Aids is on the loose
It is as dangerous as cancer
As the sun dries dew on the grass
So is Aids wiping people from the earth.

The only hope is on people behind walls
With your support and encouragement
Inmates can reform to join you
They can help to reconstruct falling society.

THE DEATH PENALTY

Perceived as a deterrent to crime
but only meant for paupers
as the rich are spared.

Though implemented with glee by other societies
It is cruel, inhumane and degrading
As it violates constitutional protections of the right to life.

For example
An historical and biblical axiom that Jesus was impaled to death on false testimony
Can society permanently eliminate the horrific prospect of executing innocent people ?

AN ARDUOS STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM

In the name of the Almighty God
We shall conquer the death penalty
If we collectively cooperate
With concerted efforts
In Union we shall achieve our goal.

Everything is possible with God
The children of God wandered for forty years in the wilderness
Finally they reached the promised land.
William Wilberford
A British parliamentarian
managed to contribute towards the abolishing of slave trade
Nelson Mandela conquered Apartheid in South Africa.

I extol all abolitionists
I doff my hat in your honour and in the face of the loyalty
in your sacrifice
The work which His goodness began
The arm of His strength will complete.

                                                                                                        FAREWELL

Farewell to a released Prisoner.
Goodbye dear friend
Goodbye brother
Goodbye sister

As you leave us in this hellish place
Go well
Your sentence is over
Be a better person

Pinch no more
Rob no more
Swindle no more
Kill no more

Rape no more
Terrorise no more
Mandela returned to jail
He became in South Africa

Jospeh returned to jail
He became a great man in Egypt
Become a great man in your community
Become a great woman in your community

Prison is awful
Don’t make it your home.

                                                                                TREASURE TROVE

Prison is associated with evil
Prisoners are despised
Scurrillious accusations levelled against us
We're as good as non existent,
Deemed incorrigable.

As rumours circulate,
About places with precious stones,
They're associated with spirits,
Dangerous snake are rumoured to haunt such places
People dread such places,
Courageous people with their chisels,
Tap precious stones from such places,
And chisel out gemstones.

In reality not all in prison are notorious,
Some are innovative and can be a blessing to communities,
Courageous people speak for the oppressed
(  ) them by unveiling their predicaments and injustices,
When released some will illuminate good deeds,
As they're untapped gems in a vault.

                                                                                    THE DEATH PENALTY - 2

Tis a devilish and ominous act,
Tis outdated,
Only targets paupers,
Tycoons are not victims,
Is this justice?

Though tis implemented with glee,
It encourages crime
Because when an angry man  murders,
Angrily he's sentenced to death,
What the difference?

Man may reform,
After a mistake,
Some are mere victims of circumstances,
They suffer for crimes they hardly committed.
At times the judges are biased,
They're not divine beings
The accused suffer,
The world is ignorant of what is happening,
A best solution should be found for the enigma.

                                                                    AN OUTCRY FROM A PILLORY

Visualise the horrific ordeal!
Endured by us unjustly fettered to bang,
Plead for us the oppressed,
Publicize our predicament for the world to know !

Come out against the prevailing injustices !
In this corrupt world,
Only paupers are victims of the death penalty,
Support us the oppressed!

Be courageous
You have a mammoth task
Save your brothers and sisters from death,
Be bold and rescue us trapped in the jaws of cruelty!

Incline your ears!
Hasten, your brother is dying!
Hasten your sister is dying!
Lift up your sharpened spears, brothers,
Lift up your sharpened spears, sisters.
Carry your machetes and clubs
Carry all your traditional weapons
Rush gripped by a spirit of a giant carnival.

                   
                                                                    THE SCOURAGE OF AIDS

Oh!  Mankind will be extinct!
Who will inhabit the earth?
Though it was created for man,
It cannot sustain him anymore,
because of his mischief!

Aids pandemic is posed to extinguish mankind,
stick to your partners,
Abstinence is a solution to singles,
Lust no more,
All that glitters is not gold.

Be warned!
Though sex thrills,
The consequences of promiscuity are grave,
you can enjoy for awhile,
But suffer thereafter,
Become thin as a bean pole,
Later on die,
So the only solution is abstinence,
I enjoy it as I live in chastity.

                                                            AN ARDOUS STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM

In the blessed name of the Almighty God,
We shall conquer the death penalty,
If we collectively co-operate,
With concerted efforts,
In unison we can ultimately achieve our goal!

Everything is possible with God,
The children of Israel wandered for forty years in the wilderness,
Finally they reached the Promised Land.

With guts William Wilberforce, a British parliamentarian,
Played a pivitol role towards the abolition of the slave trade,
It was Nelson Mandela's bravery and enthusiasm which made him combat and
Conquer Apartheid in South Africa.

I extol all the courageous and tireless abolitionists!
I greet you all and doff my hat in your honour and in the face of loyalty,
In your sacrifices.

The work which his goodness began,
The arm of his strength will complete,
Combat and subdue the death penalty!
Abolish the death penalty!
Viva abolitonists!

                                                                                COWARDS FAINT  !

Minutes are like seconds,
Hours are like minutes,
Years are like days,
Days are like minutes,
Decades like years,
Time fly.

Lucky are those who win their appeals,
Woe to us who lose our cases !
As we languish for years.

You are abandoned by your family,
Though they may intend to visit, care and support,
They can be fed up of frequent visits,

There are a lot of stumbling blocks,
Visitors may be delayed for long hours,
For a prisoner to be taken to see them.
 Visitors are held for long hours,
As vicious gaurds sift through items brought for prisoners,
Marriage may break during this crucial time.

Lucky are those with lawyers pressing the government
It takes decades for cases to be reviewed,
The reason is best known to attorneys
As for us paupers it is a disaster,
We languish for decades,
Because we have literally nothing to do.

                                                                                    GEMS OF FRIENDSHIP

' Tis a horrible experiences
To be caged like a bird in a captive.
With no visitors.
I endure hardships,
living in a hellhole,
My hope of survival is bleak.

In twinkling of an eye,
A hearty mail from you will brighten me,
When we cultivate friendship,
Watered by true love,
Aired by true honesty,
Flourished on the soil of trust,
The friendship will blossom into pure blessings.

Be a great and genuine bleeding heart
 As a florist waters her flowers daily,
So caring will you be to me,
Soothed by your true love,
Strengthened by your trust,
When days appear bleak your honesty will comfort me,
Friendship is a golden treasure in life.

                                                                                    INJUSTICE

  Injustice!
You applaud at suffering of others,
You consider the oppression of others your good triumph!
Your triumph fraudulently won because of this your wicked;
You're an architect of misunderstanding in all the communities,
You're an agent of the devil because you don't stand up for the truth in your
Actions.
You're on earth to destroy than to build because of your treacherous act and 
vanity in everything.

I am looking for pen friends to support me in my situation. Someone who is loving and caring. My hobbies are Judo, Karate, Golf, Chess, reading Christian literature and solving mathematic problems. I will be thankful for any letter.

Job Kasonda Kapita
Maximum Security Prison
Box 80915
Kabwe, Zambia