Online Reporter
Arron Nyamayaro
JUSTICE Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi says the release of 4,305 inmates, through the Presidential Amnesty, reflects a commitment to restorative justice and national compassion.
The biggest batch of the prisoners were released yesterday throughout the country.
“This executive action reflects a profound commitment to restorative justice, national compassion, and the strategic decongestion of our correctional facilities to ensure they remain centres of rehabilitation rather than mere places of punishment,” Min Ziyambi said.
“The 2026 Amnesty is targeted and merit-based, focusing on vulnerable groups and those who have demonstrated significant progress in their rehabilitation. To benefit, most inmates must have served at least one-third of their sentence by the date of gazetting.
“The specific categories for full remission of the remaining period of imprisonment include: all convicted female inmates, excluding those convicted of specified offences.
“All inmates under the age of eighteen years at the time of the order. Age is determined by birth certificates or medical age estimation.”
He added: “All inmates serving an effective period of 48 months or less, provided they are not convicted of specified offences.
“All inmates aged sixty years and above who have served at least one-third of their sentence.
“Inmates certified as terminally ill by a Correctional or Government Medical Officer (GMO).
“This also includes the visually impaired and those with physical challenges that cannot be appropriately managed within a correctional setting.
“All inmates who are currently serving terms at the Open Prison. Inmates who have served a minimum of twenty years. This includes those whose death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment.”
To safeguard the public and uphold the rule of law, certain inmates were strictly excluded from this amnesty.
“Specified Offences” such as murder, treason, carjacking, armed robbery, rape or any sexual offences do not qualify for amnesty.
Contravention of the Electricity Act, Copper Control Act, Railways Act, and Postal and Telecommunications Act also do not qualify for amnesty.
And neither do crimes in trafficking in persons, Public Violence, and contravention of the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act (MOPA).
Min Ziyambi said the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) has conducted a nationwide audit through an Electronic Inmate Data Capturing Programme (EIDCAP) to identify eligible beneficiaries.
The total number of inmates benefiting from the order is 4,305 which includes 223 females and 4082 males.
However, for the males, 3755 will be immediately released, and 327 will be released in a staggered manner.
“Please be advised that inmates serving over 48 months for non-specified offences receive a one-quarter remission of their remaining sentence.
“Furthermore, the nation should note that the release of the 3,978 beneficiaries begins today,” said Min Ziyambi.
Mathew Masinge