Zimbabwe grants clemency to over 4,000 prisoners, some of whom were sentenced to death
Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa granted clemency to more than 4,000 prisoners, including some who were on death row, in an independence day amnesty on Thursday.
Zimbabwe marked 44 years of independence from white minority rule, which ended in 1980 after a bloody bush war. The country’s name was changed from Rhodesia to Zimbabwe.
The presidential amnesty, the second in less than a year, benefits female, older and juvenile inmates, the terminally ill and some who were originally sentenced to death.
KENYA’S MILITARY CHIEF DIES IN A HELICOPTER CRASH
Those once on death row but who had their sentences commuted to life terms in previous clemency orders or through court appeals are to be freed provided they have been in prison for at least 20 years, according to the clemency order, which was announced Wednesday and due to take effect on Thursday.
All female prisoners who had served at least a third of their sentence by independence day are being freed, as are juvenile inmates who have served the same period.
Prisoners age 60 and older who have served one tenth of their sentences will also be released. Mnangagwa also pardoned the blind and others with disabilities who have served a third of their sentence.
The prisoners are being released in batches across the country.
However, those jailed for “specified” offences that include sexual offences, robbery, public violence, unlawful possession of firearms, human trafficking and theft or vandalism of electricity and telecommunications infrastructure won’t benefit from the amnesty.
All death row prisoners who have been in jail for at least 10 years had their sentences commuted to life in prison under the amnesty.
Zimbabwe has more than 60 inmates on death row. It wasn’t immediately clear how many of those had their sentences commuted to life under the amnesty.
Zimbabwe is one of more than a dozen countries in Africa and more than 50 across the world that have the death penalty, although the country’s last hanging was in 2005. Mnangagwa says he supports abolishing the death penalty, a move which was backed by the Cabinet in February and is now awaiting approval from Parliament.
Mnangagwa freed more than 4,000 prisoners in another clemency order last May aimed at decongesting the southern African nation’s overcrowded prisons, where conditions are usually harsh. At the time, Zimbabwe had about 22,000 prisoners crammed into prisons with a capacity of 17,000.
Read the full article Here
Currently iit appears lioke Expression Engine is thhe prefered blogging platfoorm out theere
righyt now. (from wwhat I’ve read) Is thast wht youu aree using on yor blog?
8hjux5
Howdy,There’s noo doubt that youur web site mightt be having weeb briwser compatibility problems.
Whenever I look aat yolur sikte in Safari, iit looks fine
however when oplening inn Intrrnet Explorer,
it’s got soke overlapping issues. I merely wannted
tto provide youu with a quiick heads up! Apatt frtom that, gteat blog!
Excellent article! We arre linking to thijs great pist onn
ourr website. Keep up thee great writing.
I’m truly enjoying thee deign annd layout off your blog.
It’s a very easy onn the eyes whichh makes it mucfh morde pleasant for mme to come heere aand viseit mre often. Did yoou hire out a designer
to create your theme? Excellent work!
When I initially commented I clucked thhe “Notify me when new comments are added”
checkbox aand noow each time a comment is adddd I gget several
e-mails with tthe same comment. Is there anyy way youu
ccan remoe me from that service? Thanks!
Thiis iis mmy first time visit at here andd i aam genuinely pleassantt tto read everthing aat onee place.
I’m no lomger positive whuere yyou aare getting youur information, however great
topic. I neesds too spend sopme time learningg mich more or workinjg out more.
Thank youu for magnificent inco I was oon thee lookout forr this infto forr myy mission.
I reaad this article fully concerning thee resembpance oof
hottest and revious technologies, it’s awessome article.
We’re a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community. Your website provided us with valuable info to work on. You have done an impressive job and our entire community will be grateful to you.
Thanks , I havee recejtly been looking foor innfo approximately
this topi ffor a long tiime aand yors is thhe greatest
I’ve came upon soo far. However, whst abouht thhe bottom line?
Arre you certain concerning tthe source?
What’s up, I read your blpogs like evbery week.
Your writing style iis awesome, keep up thee good work!
7x9k0w
Hiya, I’m really glad I’ve found this info. Today bloggers publish just about gossips and web and this is really irritating. A good website with interesting content, this is what I need. Thank you for keeping this web site, I’ll be visiting it. Do you do newsletters? Can’t find it.
VVyo icUtMkOb wLWdUHrM hbPelFDh hbxSWoo PIOJeK qsQyPO
he blog was how do i say it… relevant, finally something that helped me. Thanks
Thanks , I’ve just been searching for infoo about this subject
ffor a while andd yours iis the greatest I hve discovered til now.
However, what about the conclusion? Are yyou certain iin regards to thhe
source?