Cabinet Approves 2026 General Amnesty For Qualifying Prison Inmates

The Cabinet has approved the 2026 General Amnesty, clearing the path for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to exercise his constitutional prerogative of mercy and grant pardons to qualifying inmates.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Jenfan Muswere made the announcement at a post-Cabinet briefing in Harare on Tuesday.

He said the clemency programme, proposed by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, forms part of broader efforts to reform the country’s correctional system. Said Muswere:

“His Excellency the President, Dr E.D. Mnangagwa, will, in terms of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, exercise his power of mercy to grant pardon to any person concerned in or convicted of an offence against the law.”

Muswere said inmates who have demonstrated good behaviour and shown readiness for reintegration into society would benefit from the 2026 General Amnesty ahead of the full implementation of the parole system.

He added that the measure is intended to ease overcrowding in prisons and contribute to a safer and healthier environment for those who remain in custody.

Under the approved framework, the amnesty will apply to several categories of prisoners. These include all convicted female inmates and juveniles, as well as those serving effective sentences of 48 months or less.

Prisoners certified as terminally ill, those held in open prisons, and inmates aged 60 and above will also qualify.

In addition, prisoners serving life sentences who have completed at least 20 years will be eligible, along with inmates living with disabilities.

Those serving sentences longer than 48 months will receive an additional one-quarter remission of their effective term.

However, Muswere stressed that certain categories of offenders will be excluded from the amnesty. He said:

“The General Amnesty will exclude any prisoner who was previously released on amnesty; any person serving a sentence imposed by a Court Martial; any person with a record of escaping from lawful custody; and any inmate convicted of any specified offence.”

The specified exclusions include offences such as murder, treason, rape and other sexual crimes, carjacking, robbery and armed robbery, public violence, human trafficking, and unlawful possession of a firearm.

The amnesty will also not apply to offenders convicted under certain statutory provisions, including the Electricity Act, the Postal and Telecommunications Act, the Public Order and Security Act, the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act, the Railway Act, and the Copper Act.

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