The Sunday Mail
Online Reporter
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has pardoned various prisoners from the country’s prisons, commuting death sentences to life imprisonment for some, while freeing others on life sentences.
The list of freed prisoners includes females who have served one-third of their sentences by April 18, 2024, and all female juveniles under the age of 18.
President Mnangagwa also freed those in open prisons and those above 60 years.
The announcement was made in General Notice 467 of 2024, Clemency Order No 1 of 2024.
“Full remission of the remaining period of imprisonment is hereby granted to all convicted female inmates, save for those convicted of specified offences,” reads part of the notice.
“Age determination will be based on the birth certificate or dental age estimation of the concerned prisoner.
“Inmates charged under the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (Chapter 9:23) are excluded from this Amnesty.”
With regard to this clemency, excluded offences include, murder, treason, rape or any sexual offence, carjacking, robbery, contravention of the Public Order and Security Act/Maintenance of Peace and Order Act, and any conspiracy, incitement or attempt to commit any of the offences listed above.
Also included are public violence, human trafficking, unlawful possession of firearms, contravention of the Electricity Act, and contravention of the Postal and Telecommunications Act.
The remission also extends to various inmates who are on death sentences whose sentences were commuted to life sentences, while those who are on life sentences and have served 20 years have been freed.
Prisoners with disabilities also benefitted from the full remission, if they have been certified by a prison doctor.
