More than four thousand prisoners have been released in Zimbabwe through the presidential amnesty programme, according to the country’s correctional service.
The Zimbabwe’s Correctional Service described the amnesty 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.
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.
TVC News reliably gathered that, with their freedom, the former prisoners will be able to vote in presidential and legislative elections that are to be held in August, although no date has been announced yet.
