Mugabe frees 9000 from Zimbabwe jails

Press, 23 April 1980, Page 9

Mugabe frees 9000 from Zimbabwe jails

NZPA Salisbury The new Government of Zimbabwe has ordered the release of 9000 prisoners from jails throughout the new nation. The Good-Will Amnesty Decree said that all prisoners convicted of cattle-rustling or refusal to sene in the armed force-3 would be released. Prisoners serving jail terms of 18 months or less will also be freed as will] prisoners with 18 months or| loss left to serve of a, longer sentence. In addition. prisoners with sentences of more than 18 months will have their jail terms cut by one-third. About 1000 prisoners are reported to have been released in the last few days from jails and the rest are expected to be freed by the end of the week. In a broadcast to the nation, the Prime Minister (Mr Robert Mugabe) said the amnesty was made in the spirit of unity and forgiveness which he had preached since taking office after the February election. But at the same time he issued a severe warning to those who had committed act-3 of violence during the

three days of independence celebratiqn-s. “My Government will be taking the sternest possible measures to deal with offenders, and my warning this evening should be taken as final,” he said. During the week-end there were several grenade explosions in Salisbury’s black townships and a number ,of people were injured. The police reported several instances of attacks by Mr Mugabe’s supporters on followers of other political