The joys of the Presidential pardon

Tafadzwa Ndlovu Features Writer
Anna, an octogenarian, sits in her prison cell longing for a glimpse of her family members for the last time before she meets her creator.
Ten years have lapsed since she embarked on a solo journey characterised by grief and sorrow and her last wish is to hold her grandchildren that she doubts know of her existence.

Still in deep thought, she is disturbed by the noise of other ecstatic inmates and soon joins them in the courtyard to enquire about the unusual sound of joy.

While still in shock, a female prison officer tells her that she will be going home after the President pardoned her.

Still in doubt, she goes to the officer-in-charge who confirms her impending freedom.

Anna looks into heavens and praises her creator for coming to her rescue.

Tears trickle down her wrinkled cheeks as she reminisces about the events which brought her to a place where she travelled a solo journey.

This is the place where everyone has her own troubles, where every movement is monitored, and one is forced to sleep or eat at a given time.

Here one has to be escorted to ablution facilities.

While other prisoners are celebrating, an inmate named Rudo curses the magistrate who convicted but failed to sentence her for three years after being found guilty.

She cannot benefit since she is still awaiting sentence.

This is just a glimpse of the spectacle that characterised scenes at Chikurubi Maxim Prison when at least two thousand inmates benefited from the Presidential pardon and walked free out of prison a week ago.

As per legal tradition, President Mugabe granted the Presidential pardon on February 12 this year in terms of Section 112 (1) (a) and (d) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

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 to death.

A full remission of the remaining period of imprisonment was granted to all juvenile prisoners under the age of 18 years serving terms of imprisonment, irrespective of the offences they committed.

Prisoners who were sentenced to imprisonment for a period of 36 months and below and would have served a quarter of their sentences by the date the clemency was gazette also benefited.

Sarah was not the only one thrilled by the President’s amnesty. Her story is not different from that of Chikurubi Female Prison inmate Angeline Mutsindikwa (33), who was due to be released on April 16, 2023 after she was convicted of stock theft and sentenced to nine years.

“I was convicted of stocktheft 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.

“I am just a prisoner, I don’t know what to give the President for granting me the opportunity to spend the remainder of life with my family,” she said.

The longest serving inmate at Chikurubi Female 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.

A Former employee of the then Ministry of Information and Publicity, Natalie Makoni – who swindled the ministry 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.

Claris Dube (25) who was sentenced to 24 months after defrauding transport operator Munhenzwa of US$6 800 said when she heard the news she could not sleep or eat because she was not expecting an early release.

“I could not sleep last night and right now I cannot eat, I will eat when I get home,” she said.

At Harare Central Prison, 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’s request to free us,” he said.

The situation is however different for Vongai Kaguru who, although she is happy for those going out, is cursing a High Court judge who she says is still to sentence her after convicting her of murder.

“I was a bartender and I fought with a man whom I killed after overpowering him. A High Court judge convicted me but is yet to sentence me and who knows I could have been a beneficiary of the amnesty,” she said.

She said she had to remain in prison with three other inmates and it was sad to bid farewell to those who had become her family.

She will remain behind bars with two prisoners who are awaiting execution and another facing life in prison.

Zimbabwe Prison Services spokesperson Chief Supt Elizabeth Banda urged the beneficiaries of the Presidential pardon not to be carried away by the rare opportunity.

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 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.