Online Reporter
CABINET has approved the 2026 General Amnesty, paving the way for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to exercise his constitutional powers of mercy to pardon qualifying inmates, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere announced this Tuesday.
Addressing a Post-Cabinet media briefing in Harare, Dr Muswere said the clemency programme was proposed by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and aligns with ongoing correctional reforms.
“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,” he said.
Dr Muswere said the Presidential Clemency is consistent with the mandate of the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) to rehabilitate and reintegrate offenders into society.
“Inmates who have demonstrated good behaviour and readiness to be reintegrated into society will benefit through the 2026 General Amnesty before the Parole system comes into effect,” he said.
He added that the measure will help decongest prisons and promote a healthier and more secure environment for remaining inmates.
Under the approved framework, the following categories will benefit from the 2026 General Amnesty:
All convicted female prisoners
Juveniles
Prisoners serving an effective sentence of 48 months and below
Inmates certified as terminally ill
Prisoners held at Open Prisons
All prisoners aged 60 years and above
Prisoners serving life sentences who have completed at least 20 years
Prisoners with disabilities
Prisoners serving more than 48 months, who will receive an additional one-quarter remission of their effective term
However, Dr Muswere stressed that the amnesty will exclude certain categories of offenders.
“The General Amnesty will exclude any prisoner who was previously released on amnesty; any person serving a sentence imposed by a Court Martial; any person with a record of escaping from lawful custody; and any inmate convicted of any specified offence,” he said.
The specified offences include murder, treason, rape or sexual offences, carjacking, robbery and armed robbery, public violence, human trafficking and unlawful possession of a firearm.
It also excludes offenders convicted under statutes such as the Electricity Act, the Postal and Telecommunications Act, the Public Order and Security Act or the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act, the Railway Act, and the Copper Act.
The 2026 General Amnesty forms part of broader efforts by Government to reform the correctional system, improve conditions within prisons and support the structured reintegration of qualifying offenders into society.
