ZPCS urges nation to accept pardoned prisoners as ...

ZPCS urges nation to accept pardoned prisoners as thousands are granted executive clemency

Zimbabwe releases inmates to reduce COVID-19 pressure in jails | Daily Sabah — **Pardoned inmates bid bye to colleagues as they depart for home**

Gilbert Munetsi

The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services has urged members of society to embrace their kith and keen who have been released from prison following a presidential pardon recently granted to decongest penitentiaries across the country.

ZPCS national Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Meya Khanyezi, said after a meticulous process of verifying potential beneficiaries, they had embarked on the exercise of releasing inmates.

“We would like to appeal to the close family members, stakeholders and the society at large to embrace and accept inmates who have been released on amnesty.

“Successful reintegration of inmates back to society is not the mandate of ZPCS alone but it requires combined efforts from all citizens of Zimbabwe.

“These inmates were being rehabilitated and have been serving for the offences they committed against the state, therefore, those aggrieved are encouraged to forgive them for their successful reintegration into the society,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

In exercising executive clemency a week ago, President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared that prisoners who had served a third of their jail term by April 18 were eligible for pardon. A small fraction of those convicted for violent crimes also benefitted.

The cutting of sentences was also extended to all inmates who are terminally ill, inmates with disability and those serving their sentences at Open Prison.

Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment and have been in prison for at least 20 years can also be released on time served. Women and youths tend to be treated more leniently than men.

Harare Metropolitan province had the highest number of pardoned inmates at 790 and Bulawayo was second with 688. Midlands had 537; Manicaland 552; Mashonaland East 397; Mashonaland West 340; Mashonaland Central 206; Masvingo 398; Matabeleland North 231 and Matabeleland South 131.