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Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
A TOTAL of 463 prison inmates regained their freedom after being released from the four prisons in Manicaland Province through a Presidential Amnesty.
On May 12, a Presidential Clemence Order Number 1 of 2023 was gazetted resulting in the release of thousands of prison inmates across the country.
In Chipinge, 123 prison images regained their freedom, while 211 were released at Mutare Farm Prison.
35 were released from Mutare Remand Prison, while 44 were released from Little Kraal Prison in Nyazura .
Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services Manicaland provincial spokesperson, Chief Correctional Officer Liberty Mhlanga expressed hope that communities will accept and integrate those released through the Presidential Amnesty.
Chief Correctional Officer Mhlanga said they are confident that the inmates who have been released will be good ambassadors of the rehabilitation works being done in prisons around the country.
“We are excited to note that a total of 463 prison inmates have been released from different prisons in Manicaland. This will go a long way in reducing numbers in our prisons and pave way for more effective inmates rehabilitation work for those remaining behind. This development will also give those released a new lease of life and enable them to be productive to the communities they belong to. It is against this background that we urge communities to accept and integrate those released from prison and allow them to have a second chance in life.
“It is our fervent hope that the released inmates will be good ambassadors of the rehabilitation work being done in our prisons around the country. We really do not wish to see them back, but be productive in communities they belong,” said Chief Correctional Officer Mhlanga.
A amnesty was granted to a range of prisoners serving time for non-violent offences, with President Mnangagwa exercising executive clemency to release inmates who had served at least one third of their jail term by Independence Day last month as a measure of decongesting prisons now holding more than 22 000 prisoners.
The country’s prisons have a carrying capacity of 17 000 and Presidential clemency has been used several times in the past to reduce the prison population.
The order excludes a range of prisoners, mainly violent criminals and men serving more than four years, while qualifying more women, juveniles, those with terminal illnesses and prisoners over 60.
Some men serving longer sentences can have their sentences reduced and some, but not all, excluding violent prisoners, can be released if they have served at least three quarters of their effective sentence.
Online Reporter