ZPCS begins release of 4,305 prisoners under Clemency Order 2026

Prisoners being released

HARARE — The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) has started releasing 4,305 inmates under General Notice 99 of 2026, gazetted as Clemency Order Number 1 of 2026, the Justice Ministry announced on Monday. The executive measure, authorised by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, takes effect from 2 March 2026 and is intended to ease overcrowding while prioritising rehabilitation and public safety.

Who benefits and how the scheme works

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said the amnesty targets specific categories of prisoners who meet eligibility criteria, including all convicted female inmates except those convicted of specified serious offences. Other beneficiaries include inmates under 18 years old, those aged 60 and above who have served at least one‑third of their sentence, and prisoners certified as terminally ill or with severe disabilities that cannot be managed in custody.

The order also covers inmates held in open prisons and those who have served a minimum of 20 years, including individuals whose death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment. Most beneficiaries must have served at least one‑third of their sentence by the date the order was gazetted.

Numbers, timing, and staggered releases

Of the 4,305 beneficiaries, 223 are women, and 4,082 are men. Minister Ziyambi said 3,755 of the male beneficiaries will be released immediately, while 327 will be released in a staggered manner. Inmates serving more than 48 months for non‑specified offences will receive a one‑quarter remission of their remaining sentence.

Ziyambi emphasised that the release of 3,978 beneficiaries begins on 2 March 2026, and that the ZPCS conducted a nationwide audit using an electronic inmate data capturing programme to identify eligible individuals.

Exclusions and safeguards

To protect public safety and uphold the rule of law, the Clemency Order excludes inmates convicted of serious offences, including murder, treason, carjacking, robbery and armed robbery, rape and other sexual offences, as well as crimes under statutes such as the Electricity Act, Copper Act, Railways Act, and Postal and Telecommunications Act. Offences involving trafficking in persons, public violence, and contraventions of the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act are also excluded.

Government rationale and call for community support

Minister Ziyambi framed the amnesty as an act of restorative justice and a pragmatic step to reduce prison congestion and enhance rehabilitation. He urged communities, families, and the private sector to assist with reintegration, saying successful social support is essential to prevent recidivism.

“This executive action reflects a profound commitment to restorative justice, national compassion, and the strategic decongestion of correctional facilities,” Ziyambi said, calling on Zimbabweans to receive returnees with grace and to support their reintegration.

Authorities said arrangements are being made to manage the releases, provide necessary documentation, and coordinate with social services to facilitate reintegration and monitor compliance with any post‑release conditions.

ZPCS Clemency Order 2026 releases 4305