Zimbabwe grants amnesty to over 4,000 prisoners

The Zimbabwean government has granted amnesty to over 4,000 prisoners.

The huge presidential amnesty resulted in the release of around one-fifth of all Zimbabwean prisoners.

According to the country’s correctional service, a total of 4270 inmates were released as a “noble gesture” by the president.

The move brings down overcrowding in the country which numbers over 50 detention centres, that have capacity for about 17 000 people but held more than 22 000 before the amnesty.

The amnesty was granted to various categories of prisoners including those who are terminally ill, those who have served at least three-quarters of their sentence, or one tenth if over the age of 60.

Violent criminals as well as those serving time for robbery, treason and public order and security offences/ were excluded.

The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service appealed the society at large to accept the inmates who’ve been released.

Former inmates will be permitted to vote in presidential and legislative elections in August, though no specific date has been set.

The government has worked hard to alleviate poverty, end power outages, and control inflation.