Jubilation as prisoners go home

Innocent Ruwende Senior Reporter—
Hundreds of serving inmates who benefited from the Presidential pardon walked out of prison yesterday begging the nation to embrace them saying they had reformed their ways. President Mugabe extended the Presidential pardon on February 12 this year in terms of Section 112 (1) (a) and (d) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

Inmates at Chikurubi Female Prison, who were the first to be released, burst into song praising President Mugabe and Government for giving them a second chance.

Police were present at most prisons to ensure that they arrest those with pending matters upon release while immigration officials also waited to facilitate deportation of those who were pardoned.

Angeline Mutsindikwa (33), who was due for release  on April 16, 2023 after she was convicted of stocktheft and sentenced to nine years, said she was still to believe she was walking out of prison.

“I was convicted of stock- theft on August 16, 2012, (so) I was not looking forward to be free anytime soon. I would like to thank President Mugabe for exercising leniency.

“I do not want my family members to know. I want to surprise them,” she said.
She said her family had already accepted her apology as they had been visiting her frequently.

Erinata Matina of Chinhoyi, who does not know her age but believes she is around 80 years, said she was very happy that President Mugabe gave her a chance to spend the remainder of her life with her family.

“I was drunk when I assaulted and killed my mother. I was left with three years on my sentence. I am very happy to be leaving this place,” she said.

The longest serving inmate at the prison, Rudo Mainda, who was sentenced to 18 years for stocktheft, said she was delighted to join her family after spending 10 years in jail.

“I am overwhelmed. I cannot eat at the moment. I want to thank the President for the chance he has given me and I would also like to thank prison officials for moulding me and taking me as a kid,” she said.

Former employee of the then Ministry of Information and Publicity, Natalie Makoni – who swindled it of US$19 000 – was also among the beneficiaries.

“I was convicted and sentenced in 2012. I was due to be released in February 2016. I am happy I was given this rare opportunity to raise my children and start a new life.

“Relatives have been visiting me so much but I heard my husband left for South Africa,” she said.
She said she was expecting a rousing welcome at home.

At Harare Central Prison white former commercial farmer Martin Gous, who had served 12 years for breaching sections of the Land Acquisition Act, said he had reformed after realising that the long arm of the law always catches up with offenders.
“I am being released because of good behaviour. I want to thank President Mugabe for accepting ZPS request to free us,” he said.
Zimbabwe Prison Services spokesperson Chief Supt Elizabeth Banda urged the beneficiaries of the Presidential pardon not to be carried away by the rare opportunity.

“You should remember that it is not going to be all rosy. You don’t know whether your victims have forgiven you or not. Your loved ones may have moved on, so you have to embrace it and move on with your lives.

“If your husband has moved on, go and start a new life and do not commit further offences but behave and abide by the law so that you don’t come back here,” she said.

The prisoners are being released in batches around the country as officials want to ensure that those benefiting meet the criteria set by the President.

Under the clemency order No. 1 of 2014 the President granted a remission of the remainder of the periods of imprisonment to female prisoners regardless of the offence committed save for those sentenced to life imprisonment and death.

There were 18 980 prisoners in Zimbabwe’s 42 prisons as at February 14 this year, which is 12 percent above the holding capacity of 17 000.

A total of 195 convicted female inmates at Chikurubi Female Prison were set free.
All juvenile prisoners under the age of 18 years serving terms of imprisonment, irrespective of the offences they committed, were freed as well as all those prisoners sentenced to imprisonment for a period of 36 months and below and would have served a quarter of their sentences.