Zimbabwe Prisons Releases Thousands of Inmates Under Presidential Amnesty
By Staff Reporter
The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) says it has embarked on a process of releasing a significant number of inmates after a meticulous verification process under the Presidential amnesty.
The exercise aims to reintegrate eligible individuals back into society and foster their successful reintegration and the release of a total of 4,270 inmates across the country has brought a glimmer of hope to both the prisoners and their families.
Harare Metropolitan, one of the key provinces where the amnesty has been implemented, has released a substantial number of inmates, with a total of 790 individuals regaining their freedom. Among them, 770 are males, and 20 are females.
Similarly, in Bulawayo, 688 inmates have been released, including 680 males and 8 females. Midlands saw the release of 537 prisoners, comprising 527 males and 10 females.
Manicaland, another province that participated in the amnesty, released 552 inmates, with 543 males and 9 females returning to their communities.
The overall figures indicate that the majority of those benefitting from the amnesty are male, with a total of 4,166 males regaining their freedom, compared to 104 females across the country.
As the released inmates step out of the prison walls, the ZPCS called upon close family members and the wider society to embrace and accept these individuals back into their communities.
“We would like to appeal to the close family members, stakeholders, and the society at large to embrace and accept inmates who have been released on amnesty. Successful reintegration of inmates back into society is not the sole mandate of ZPCS alone, but it requires combined efforts from all citizens of Zimbabwe,” stated Chief Superintendent Meya Khanyezi, the national public relations officer for ZPCS.
By extending forgiveness and offering support to these individuals, society can play a vital role in helping them rebuild their lives and contribute positively to the nation.
