A total of 2,228 offenders will benefit from the presidential pardon and reprieve announced by the Namibian Correctional Service (NCS).
According to the Gazette Proclamation received by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security, the NCS will release 313 offenders, while 1,108 will have their sentences reduced.
An additional 709 offenders will be released from community supervision, while 98 more will receive a reprieve from probation.
These figures were determined out of a total of 4,330 offenders currently in correctional facilities and 1,574 offenders under community supervision nationwide.
A presidential pardon is an act of clemency that fully forgives an individual for their crime.
A reprieve, on the other hand, temporarily delays the punishment or reduces the severity of the sentence without forgiving the crime itself.
However, neither a pardon nor a reprieve alters the criminal or legal status or record of the released inmates.
Deputy Commissioner General Sam Shaalulange announced the pardon and reprieves during a media briefing at the NCS headquarters, emphasising the significance of the presidential decree in reducing prison overcrowding and giving rehabilitated individuals a second chance.
"Although our correctional facilities are not overcrowded because the capacity of 4,900 is not exceeded, we believe it is positive for inmate management when we release more inmates because ultimately, we want a very low number of inmates, and we believe that reducing the inmate population is a good thing for the country."
The pardon will result in the release of non-violent offenders who have demonstrated good behaviour and have served the majority of their sentences.
Offenders eligible for reprieve include those with terminal illnesses, elderly prisoners over the age of 70, and women with young children.
Shaalulange emphasised the thorough process involved in selecting candidates for the pardon, stating that each case is meticulously reviewed to ensure that the individuals considered are truly deserving and do not pose a threat to society.