500 inmates released from Mash West prisons

THE Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) has released 563 inmates from across its prisons in Mashonaland West following a Presidential amnesty issued last week.

ZPCS provincial spokesperson Peter Chaparanganda said the number was more than a third of the total prison population in Mashonaland West.

There are 1 400 prisoners in the province’s six prisons.

“We have released 492 prisoners on the presidential amnesty, while the remaining 71 had their sentences reduced under the General Amnesty 2018: Clearance Order No 1,” Chaparanganda said. Twenty-six of the released prisoners are female.

Kadoma Prison had the highest number of inmates pardoned, with 171 men and 14 women, while Chinhoyi had 96 males and six females released.

Chaparanganda said the majority of women inmates who were pardoned were doing time for theft of trust property, while most males were serving for unlawful entry and illegal possession of minerals. Most of the pardoned prisoners expressed gratitude to President Mnangagwa’s gesture.

Twenty-five-year-old Shamiso Muketiwa from Magunje, who was serving a 12-month prison sentence for theft of trust property, was elated to be free. “I just want to thank His Excellency, President Mnangagwa, for releasing me four months before my actual date of release.

“Prison is not a good place for a woman, especially if you have children outside. I will pay back what the President has done to me by not committing crime again,” she said.

Peter Moteni (25) from Mhangura, who was serving a 30-month prison sentence for theft, also heaped praise on President Mnangagwa.

He was released after serving 15 months.