Pardoned inmate steals fellow prisoner's hat

Feature: Presidential amnesty gives prisoners second chance of life in Zimbabwe - Xinhua | English.news.cn

Zim Now Writer

A prisoner granted parole at the recent executive clemency exercise almost forfeited his freedom after he was accused of stealing a hat from one of the inmates who also benefited from the presidential amnesty.

As a measure to decongest penitentiaries the country over, President Mnangagwa on Independence day announced he would be pardoning inmates who had served at least a third of their minor crimes sentences. The terminally ill, the disabled and mentally-challenged were also included in the exercise.

Forty-three prisoners in Beitbridge, including one woman with a child, were released from prison in the border town under the amnesty announced early this week, which officials say would decongest prisons around the country.

However, one Ronald Sibanda was found with the hat belonging to another inmate, but the matter was solved amicably and everyone eventually walked out free.

Of the 43, four were from the A class, 31 from the B class and seven were from the C class.

They are part of the 4 270 inmates being pardoned countrywide.