Prisoners granted amnesty

The Zimbabwe Government has declared an amnesty for prisoners who have served at least a third of their sentences. A TimesLIVE report notes that Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the amnesty would decongest overcrowded prisons. 'The proposed amnesty is targeted at all prisoners who have served at least one-third of their sentences, save for those convicted of specified offences such as the following: murder, treason, rape or any sexual offence, carjacking, robbery, stock theft and public violence. She said the prison population stands at 20 000 against a holding capacity of 17 000.