LUSAKA, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- Zambian President Edgar Lungu has pardoned 593 prisoners from various correctional facilities across the country as part of the Christmas celebrations, a senior government official said on Tuesday.

Minister of Home Affairs Stephen Kampyongo said in a statement released on Monday that the move was in exercise of the powers vested in the Zambian leader to exercise presidential pardon and substitution of severe sentences.

He said of those pardoned, 575 were serving long sentences while 18 were serving long term sentences.

The authorities, he said, were fully convinced that the pardoned inmates had fully rehabilitated and were ready for reintegration into society.