Zimbabwe Begins Releasing Nearly 4,000 Prisoners Amid Presidential Term Extension Plan

Zimbabwe has begun releasing nearly 4,000 inmates under a presidential amnesty aimed at easing prison overcrowding. The 2026 Clemency Order targets vulnerable and rehabilitated prisoners, excluding serious offenders and those convicted under the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act. The move coincides with proposed constitutional changes that could extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term until 2030, a plan criticized by opposition figures as a “constitutional coup.”

Zimbabwe on Monday began releasing nearly 4,000 inmates under a presidential amnesty aimed at easing overcrowding in the country’s prisons. The cabinet had announced the measure in February, the same day it approved constitutional changes as part of a plan to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term until 2030. The Clemency Order grants a general amnesty to specific categories of convicted inmates, as authorised by the president.
Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi explained that the 2026 amnesty is targeted and merit-based, focusing on vulnerable groups and prisoners who have shown significant progress in their rehabilitation. He emphasized that the move reflects a commitment to restorative justice and national compassion and does not apply to prisoners convicted of serious crimes. In total, 4,305 inmates, including 223 women, are set to be released under the order.
At Harare Central Prison on Monday, hundreds of inmates were observed in the yard, divided into two groups. One side included prisoners still wearing their orange uniforms, who will remain incarcerated, while the other consisted of men who had already changed into civilian clothes, awaiting processing for release and return to their communities.
Among those freed was 23-year-old Tendai Chitsika, serving a six-month sentence for theft and only two months from completion. “It was a learning curve for me. I’m a changed person and I promise to do good out there,” he said, adding his gratitude to the president for the opportunity. Some inmates celebrated with chants of “Mnangagwa huchi,” loosely translating to “Mnangagwa is honey,” while one held aloft a banner bearing the president’s image.
Demetria Sichauke was among the women released. She described how she had learned skills during her incarceration, including making bags and key holders, and said, “Now drug dealing is a thing of the past.”
Zimbabwe’s prisons held just over 24,000 inmates in the second quarter of 2025, according to the latest national data. The amnesty does not include prisoners convicted under the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act, a provision historically used against protesters and opposition figures.
The amnesty comes amid widespread anger in Zimbabwe over proposed constitutional changes that would allow Mnangagwa to extend his presidential term by two years. Opposition figures have described the move as a constitutional “coup,” with other provisions eliminating general presidential elections and granting parliament the power to select the president. These amendments still need parliamentary approval, where the ruling Zanu-PF party holds a strong majority.