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July Vol 2

Starving Zimbabwe prisoners to be released

By The Times (SA)   Mon, Jun 29, 2009

ZIMBABWE’S cash-strapped government is considering freeing starving prisoners in an effort to reduce the prison mortality rate that has already topped 1000 in the past six months.

ZIMBABWE’S cash-strapped government is considering freeing starving prisoners in an effort to reduce the prison mortality rate that has already topped 1000 in the past six months.

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    “The amnesty is going to mainly focus on the state of the prisoners’ health,” said an unnamed prison official who was quoted in the state-owned Sunday Mail.

    But, like most things in Zimbabwe, the planned amnesty will not take place until president Robert Mugabe, 85, allows it.

    For months, overcrowded prisons have not been able to feed inmates, resulting in numerous deaths. Most of the dead were known to have succumbed to malnutrition-related illnesses.

    Government appeals for financial assistance to run its prisons have not yielded anything, forcing the authorities to consider releasing as many prisoners as possible. Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa said: “We are going to grant prisoners in different categories amnesty.”

    Chinamasa said that his ministry was waiting for Mugabe “to give us authority to carry out the exercise”.

    • By The Times (SA)

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