The Ministries of Home Affairs of Namibia and Zambia have exchanged sentenced offenders who met the requirements to serve the remainder of their sentences in their home countries.

14 Zambian nationals were repatriated at the Katima Mulilo Border Post, while five Namibian nationals were handed over to the Namibian authorities.

This is the second time sentenced offenders are exchanged between Namibia and Zambia following the repatriation of 15 sentenced inmates (14 male and one female) from Zambia last year.

The latest inmates repatriated were among 193 Zambian nationals incarcerated in Namibia's correctional facilities, while the five Namibians were among 14 people incarcerated in Zambian correctional facilities.

Today's exchange was the fulfilment of a resolution taken at the 'Namibia-Zambia Joint Permanent Commission Session on Defence and Security', at Swakopmund in July this year.

This latest release brings the number of inmates repatriated to Zambia to 29, while 11 Namibians were repatriated since the agreement's signing in 2012.

In a joint media release, the countries explained that the offenders' exchange will allow those individuals to serve their time, closer to their families. 

It also makes rehabilitation and reintegration into society easier and more cost-effective for the offenders.

Consistent studies have found that offenders who maintain close contact with family members while incarcerated generally have a better post-release outcome and show lower re-offending rates.