President Mnangagwa issues Clemency Order No 1 of 2026 releasing thousands of inmates

ZPS MANAGEMENT

HARARE — President Emmerson Mnangagwa has issued a sweeping amnesty order that will see thousands of convicts freed from Zimbabwe’s prisons, the Government Gazette published yesterday confirmed. Clemency Order No 1 of 2026 grants full remission to several categories of inmates while setting out exclusions and conditions for eligibility.

The Gazette states that full remission is granted to female inmates and all child offenders under 18 years. Age will be verified using birth certificates or dental age estimation, where necessary. The President also pardoned inmates serving sentences of 48 months or less, and those certified terminally ill by a correctional or government medical officer, with instructions for the Department of Correctional Services to coordinate post‑release treatment with the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare.

Additional beneficiaries include inmates serving time at Open Prisons, prisoners aged 60 years and above who have served at least one-third of their sentence, and those serving life imprisonment who have completed 20 years, including time served under a death sentence before commutation or sentences altered to life on appeal or review.

People with disabilities are also covered where a medical officer certifies they are visually impaired or physically unable to be cared for in a correctional facility.

The order grants an additional one‑quarter remission of the effective term to inmates sentenced to more than 48 months who have served at least one-third of their sentence as of the date the Clemency Order was gazetted, provided they are not convicted of specified offences. To qualify for any remission, inmates must have served the required portion of their sentence and must not be convicted of excluded crimes.

The Gazette lists a range of specified offences excluded from the amnesty, including murder, treason, rape and other sexual offences, carjacking, robbery and armed robbery, public violence, and trafficking in persons. Also excluded are unlawful possession of firearms and breaches of several statutes such as the Electricity Act, Postal and Telecommunications Act, Public Order and Security Act, Maintenance of Peace and Order Act, Railways Act, and Copper Control Act, as well as conspiracy, incitement, or attempts to commit these offences. Previous beneficiaries of amnesty, those sentenced by court-martial, and inmates with records of escaping lawful custody are also ineligible.

The Clemency Order directs the Department of Correctional Services to implement releases and to liaise with social welfare and health authorities to ensure continuity of care for medically vulnerable inmates. Authorities will need to verify eligibility, process documentation, and manage reintegration support for released persons.

Mnangagwa Clemency Order 2026