To be incarcerated denies one his freedom in many ways and many would do anything to regain it, but that is not for Merad Abraham who was pardoned by the President.
He was among the 5,533 pardoned by President John Magufuli on independence but he has since refused to leave Ruanda Prison, in Mbeya to join his family.
Abraham claims he has nowhere and relatives to go back to, to force his continued stay at the correction facility; he injured himself on his face using a stone.
Abraham was sentenced to 30 year jail term after being found guilty of rape. He had served 19 years of his jail term.
As part of the Presidential pardon 70 convicted inmates out of 279 from the prison were released on Tuesday December 11.