By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
A total of 75 inmates, part of the 4 305 inmates granted freedom nationwide through Presidential Amnesty Clemency Order Number 1 of 2026, were released from Beitbridge Prison on Monday.
The announcement was made by Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Ziyambi Ziyambi, who said 3 755 inmates would be released immediately across the country, while the release of the remainder would be staggered.
Ziyambi made the remarks during a press conference on Monday morning.
This decision was published in the Government Gazette of February 20, 2026.
Speaking to the press, Beitbridge Prison’s second-in-charge, Chief Correctional Officer Kudzai Makoni, said the beneficiaries were inmates who had served at least one-third of their sentences.
He said at Beitbridge Prison, only male inmates benefited from the amnesty.
“We hope not to see them back again in the correctional service. While they were here, we capacitated them with various life skills including farming, tailoring, baking, and other vocational training programmes. We do not want them to return to crime but to use these skills to take care of their families after prison,” said Makoni.
He urged the released inmates to make good use of the opportunity granted to them.
“This is a second chance in life. We encourage them to embrace this opportunity and utilise the skills they have acquired here to build better futures for themselves and their families,” he said.
A beneficiary, Samuel Mpofu , who was serving a three-year sentence for unlawful entry and had done two years and four months, expressed gratitude for the amnesty.
“I am very happy about the amnesty and grateful to His Excellency the President and the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service for remembering me. During my time here, I learned plumbing, which I intend to use to earn a living,” said Mpofu.
He also appealed to his family for reconciliation.
“I call upon my family, who never visited me during my incarceration, to accept me back. I have changed and I am ready to start a new chapter in my life,” he said.
Another beneficiary, Philani Ndlovu, echoed similar sentiments.
“This amnesty has given us hope and a fresh start. We are thankful for the skills training we received and promise to become responsible citizens who contribute positively to our communities,” he said.