Story by Peter Chivhima
THE first group of inmates qualifying under Zimbabwe’s 2026 Presidential Amnesty is set for release at Harare Central Prison on Monday, marking the formal commencement of a nationwide clemency programme.
The release follows the proclamation of Clemency Order Number One of 2026 and is being administered by the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS). A ceremony at Harare Central Prison is expected to be led by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi.
Authorities indicate that further releases will take place in phases at correctional facilities across the country as the order is implemented.
According to ZPCS Deputy National Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Solomon Mutamba, the process is being conducted strictly in accordance with the provisions set out in the clemency instrument.
Under the Order, eligibility extends to inmates serving short-term sentences, elderly prisoners, the terminally ill, and individuals who have served a significant portion of their sentences for non-violent offences.
However, the clemency excludes those previously released under amnesty, individuals serving sentences imposed by a Court Martial, and escapees from lawful custody. It also bars persons convicted of serious offences, including murder, treason, rape, armed robbery, trafficking in persons and unlawful possession of firearms.
Presidential amnesties are periodically granted in Zimbabwe as part of broader correctional policy measures. Officials say the 2026 initiative is intended to reduce congestion in correctional facilities while supporting rehabilitation and structured reintegration of eligible offenders into society.
The phased approach allows authorities to assess compliance with eligibility criteria and manage the administrative demands of coordinated releases nationwide.
