Government has approved a sweeping 2026 Presidential Amnesty that will see all convicted female prisoners released.
This was announced by Information Minister Jenfan Muswere during Tuesday’s post-Cabinet briefing.
Muswere said President Emmerson Mnangagwa would exercise his constitutional “power of mercy” to pardon selected categories of inmates, a move he said was in line with the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service’s rehabilitation mandate.
“His Excellency the President, Dr. E. D. Mnangagwa will, in terms of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, exercise his power of mercy to grant pardon to any person concerned in or convicted of an offence against the law,” Muswere said.
He added that those chosen had “demonstrated good behaviour and readiness to be reintegrated into society.”
Female prisoners form the largest single group set to benefit, with the Cabinet confirming that all convicted female inmates qualify for release.
Juveniles will also benefit, as will prisoners serving 48 months and below, inmates certified terminally ill, prisoners at Open Prison, and those aged 60 and above.
Muswere said the clemency order will also extend to some long-term inmates. “Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment, provided they have served 20 years,” will be included, along with “prisoners with disabilities” and a provision for “an additional one-quarter remission of the effective term of imprisonment to those prisoners who were sentenced to more than 48 months.”
He said the move was also meant to ease pressure on correctional facilities.
“The Presidential Clemency will decongest the prison population for a healthy and secure environment for the remaining prisoners,” Muswere said.
However, Cabinet stressed that not all inmates would qualify.
The amnesty will exclude any prisoner previously released under a similar measure, anyone serving a sentence imposed by a Court Martial, those with records of escaping lawful custody, and people convicted of specified offences such as murder, treason, rape or sexual offences, robbery, armed robbery, human trafficking and several other serious crimes.
The 2026 General Amnesty will take effect ahead of the activation of the country’s Parole system.
