The
order
grants
a
general
amnesty
to
specific
categories
of
convicted
inmates,
as
authorised
by
President
Emmerson
Mnangagwa.
A
total
of
4,305
prisoners,
including
223
women
and
4,082
men,
are
set
to
be
released
under
the
Clemency
Order,
starting
today,
2
March
2026.
Addressing
the
media
in
Harare
on
Monday,
Justice,
Legal
and
Parliamentary
Affairs
Minister
Ziyambi
Ziyambi
said:
“This
executive
action
reflects
a
profound
commitment
to
restorative
justice,
national
compassion,
and
the
strategic
decongestion
of
correctional
facilities
to
ensure
they
remain
centres
of
rehabilitation
rather
than
mere
places
of
punishment.“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.”
Justice,
Legal
and
Parliamentary
Affairs
Minister
Ziyambi
Ziyambi
has
outlined
the
categories
of
prisoners
eligible
for
full
remission
of
the
remaining
period
of
their
sentences
under
the
Clemency
Order.
All
convicted
female
inmates
are
included,
with
the
exception
of
those
convicted
of
certain
serious
offences.
In
addition,
the
order
covers
inmates
who
were
under
18
years
old
at
the
time
it
was
issued,
with
age
to
be
verified
through
birth
certificates
or,
where
necessary,
medical
age
estimation.
The
amnesty
also
applies
to
inmates
aged
60
and
above
who
have
served
at
least
one-third
of
their
sentence,
as
well
as
those
certified
as
terminally
ill
by
a
correctional
or
government
medical
officer.
This
category
includes
individuals
who
are
visually
impaired
or
have
physical
disabilities
that
cannot
be
properly
managed
within
a
correctional
setting.
Prisoners
currently
serving
their
sentences
at
open
prisons
and
those
who
have
served
a
minimum
of
20
years,
including
individuals
whose
death
sentences
were
commuted
to
life
imprisonment,
are
also
eligible.
Ziyambi
emphasised
that,
to
safeguard
the
public
and
uphold
the
rule
of
law,
certain
offenders
are
strictly
excluded
from
the
amnesty.
Inmates
convicted
of
serious
crimes
such
as
murder,
treason,
carjacking,
robbery
and
armed
robbery,
rape
or
other
sexual
offences,
as
well
as
breaches
of
legislation
including
the
Electricity
Act,
Copper
Act,
Railways
Act,
and
Postal
and
Telecommunications
Act,
are
not
eligible.
The
exclusion
also
covers
offences
such
as
trafficking
in
persons,
public
violence,
contraventions
of
the
Maintenance
of
Peace
and
Order
Act,
and
any
conspiracy,
incitement,
or
attempt
to
commit
these
crimes.
Said
Ziyambi:
“The
Zimbabwe
Prisons
and
Correctional
Service
has
conducted
a
nationwide
audit
through
an
electronic
inmate
data
capturing
programme
to
identify
eligible
beneficiaries.“The
total
number
of
inmates
benefiting
from
this
order
is
4,305,
which
includes
223
females
and
4,082
males.“However,
for
the
males,
3,755
will
be
immediately
released,
and
327
will
be
released
in
a
staggered
manner.“And
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.“The
nation
is
urged
to
note
that
amnesty
is
not
a
dismissal
of
the
gravity
of
the
crimes
committed,
but
an
acknowledgement
of
the
capacity
for
human
reform.“I
call
upon
all
Zimbabweans,
families,
community
leaders,
and
the
private
sector
to
receive
these
individuals
with
grace.“Successful
reintegration
is
the
most
effective
tool
against
recidivism.”