President Emmerson Mnangagwa has granted full remission of sentence for convicted female inmates, terminally-ill and prisoners living with disabilities, save for those convicted of specified offences such as murder, terrorism and rape.
According to the General Notice 467 of 2024, the inmates should have served one third (1/3) of the sentence by 18th April, 2024, the Independence Day.
“IT is hereby notified that His Excellency the President has, in terms of section 112(1)(a) and (d) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, made the order set out in the Schedule.
“A full remission of the remaining period of imprisonment is hereby granted to all convicted female inmates, save for those convicted of specified offences. The inmate should have served one third (1/3) of the sentence by 18th April, 2024,” read part of the notice.
The President exercises executive clemency to release inmates every year as a measure of decongesting prisons.
The remission applies to female prisoners, inmates under 18, prisoners sentenced to 48 months and below, terminally-ill inmates, inmates at Open Prisons, prisoners who are 60 years and above who have served a tenth of their sentence.
The order also releases prisoners who have served life imprisonment for 20 years and inmates with disabilities.
Inmates sentenced to death have their sentences changed to life sentence. A quarter is slashed from inmates sentenced to over 48 months in prison, who have served a third of their sentences.
Meanwhile, the remission excludes any prisoner previously released on amnesty, inmates serving a sentence imposed by a military court.
It also excludes prisoners convicted of murder, treason, rape or any sexual offence, carjacking, robbery, public violence, human trafficking, unlawful possession of firearm, contravention of the Electricity Act, contravention of the Postal and Telecommunications Act, contravention of the Public Order and Security Act/ Maintenance of Peace and Order Act and any conspiracy, incitement or attempt to commit any of these listed offences.
