The Zimbabwe government is set to pardon 5 000 inmates from the country’s jails in attempts to decongest its correctional facilities .

Currently the country’s prison population is at 22 000 against the holding cpacity of 17 000.

Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the move will decongest the food starved and crowded prisons.

“Cabinet consider and approved a proposal to have a general amnesty for prisoners. Cabinet noted that the country’s prison population is currently standing at 22,000 against an official holding capacity of 17,000,” Mutsvangwa said.

A general amnesty was last done in 2018 with ED Mnangagwa pardoning 3 000 inmates.

Mutsvangwa added that: “The general amnesty which will be for certain specified categories of prisoners will certainly decongest the country’s prisons and alleviate challenges being experienced by the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services.”

The decision to impose a general amnesty was proposed by the Justice Ministry.