Zimbabwe Abolishes Legislation to Death Penalty
Zimbabwe’s Senate has taken a significant step toward abolishing the death penalty, passing legislation that awaits President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s signature to become law. The country has not carried out an execution in nearly two decades, with the last instance occurring in 2005. This hiatus has been partly attributed to a lack of individuals willing to serve as executioners.
President Mnangagwa, who has been a vocal opponent of capital punishment, has frequently used his authority to commute death sentences to life imprisonment. His stance is deeply personal, rooted in his experience of being sentenced to death during Zimbabwe’s independence war—a sentence later reduced to a ten-year prison term. Amnesty International has urged him to sign the bill without delay and to commute the sentences of the 60-plus prisoners currently on death row.
The move aligns Zimbabwe with a growing global trend toward abolishing the death penalty. According to Amnesty International, over 75% of nations worldwide have abandoned capital punishment in law or practice. In Africa, Zimbabwe joins Kenya, Liberia, and Ghana as nations taking progressive steps toward eliminating this form of punishment.
Globally, Amnesty recorded 1,153 known executions in 2023, an increase from 883 in 2022, despite a decrease in the number of countries actively carrying out executions. China, Iran, and Saudi Arabia accounted for nearly 90% of these executions, with China believed to execute thousands annually, though exact figures remain opaque.
Iran and Saudi Arabia continue to execute at alarming rates, often for offenses that would not be considered capital crimes in many other countries. In the United States, executions rose from 18 in 2022 to 24 in 2023. Meanwhile, Somalia also ranked among the top executioners, contributing to Africa’s execution figures.
Zimbabwe’s legislative progress reflects a broader acknowledgment of the death penalty’s declining relevance in modern justice systems. Abolishing it would not only mark a significant human rights milestone for Zimbabwe but also strengthen the country’s alignment with international norms. As the world increasingly shifts away from capital punishment, Zimbabwe’s commitment to abolition would further reinforce the continent’s leadership in promoting humane justice systems.
The death penalty remains an emotionally charged and controversial issue globally. However, Zimbabwe’s decision could inspire more countries in Africa and beyond to reconsider and abolish this outdated form of punishment.
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