President Grants Amnesty to 4,000 Inmates

Zimbabwe began releasing nearly 4,000 inmates under a presidential amnesty to alleviate severe overcrowding in the nation's prisons. Authorities released over 900 inmates across Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, and Bulawayo alone. The Cabinet announced the amnesty in February, coinciding with the approval of constitutional changes. These changes are part of a plan to potentially extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term beyond 2028. This amnesty represents a significant national policy shift, intended to create more manageable conditions within correctional facilities and address human rights concerns. The government views this as a crucial step towards prison reform.