Gweru (New Ziana) – Prisons in the Midlands province have released a total of 537 inmates following a presidential amnesty intended to de-congest the country’s jails, an official said on Friday.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa recently pardoned 4 270 prison inmates jailed for minor offences who had served at least a third of their sentences.
The move was both on humanitarian grounds and intended to de-congest prisons which now had more than their carrying capacity of 17 000.
In the Midlands province, 537 inmates benefited from the presidential clemency, including 10 female prisoners.
The Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Service (ZPCS) appealed to the public to accept the released prisoners, and help them re-integrate into society.
National prisons spokeswoman, Meya Khanyezi urged those offended against to forgive the ex-prisoners to make their re-integration into society easier and swifter.
“We would like to appeal to the close family members, stakeholders and the society at large to embrace and accept inmates who have been released on amnesty. Successful integration of inmates back to society is not the sole mandate of ZPCS alone but it requires combined efforts from all citizens of Zimbabwe,” she said.
“These inmates were being rehabilitated and have been serving for the offences they committed against the State, therefore, those aggrieved are encouraged to forgive them for their successful reintegration into the society,” she added.
New Ziana
