Zimbabwe has officially abolished the death penalty following the signing of a
landmark law by President Emmerson
Mnangagwa.
The new legislation, published in the Official Gazette on December 31, prohibits courts from imposing capital punishment and commutes all existing death sentences to prison terms.
While Zimbabwe had maintained a moratorium on executions since 2005, courts continued to issue death sentences for serious crimes, including murder, treason, and terrorism.
The enactment of this law now fully outlaws the death penalty for all offenses.
Despite the milestone, the law includes a provision allowing the reintroduction of the death penalty during a state of emergency.
As of late 2023, 59 inmates remained on death row in the country.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have lauded the abolition as a “historic moment.” However, they have also called on Zimbabwean authorities to remove the state of emergency clause. “We urge the government to fully abolish the death penalty without exceptions,” Amnesty said in a statement.
Africanews/Patience Ameh
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