President Mnangagwa pardons over 4 000 prisoners on amnesty

Harare (New Ziana)-President Emmerson Mnangagwa has pardoned 4 270 prisoners on amnesty as the government moves to decongest the country’s correctional facilities.

As of August last year, Zimbabwe’s prison population stood at 22 114 against a holding capacity of 17 000 inmates.

Of the total number of inmates set for release under the presidential amnesty, only 104 are women.

Harare province has the highest number of inmates to be pardoned at 790 while only 131 prisoners will be let out in Matabeleland south province.

Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) public relations officer Meya Khanyezi said the exercise of releasing inmates is taking place after a meticulous process of verifying potential beneficiaries.

“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 reintegration of inmates back to society is not the sole mandate of ZPCS (Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services) alone but it requires combined efforts from all citizens of Zimbabwe.

“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, “said Khanyenzi in a statement.

Zimbabwe’s prisoners were last released under a presidential amnesty in 2021.

New Ziana