Death penalty abolished in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa has signed a law that officially abolishes the death penalty, making the country one of the latest in southern Africa to eliminate capital punishment.

Human rights organization Amnesty International commended the decision, calling it a "beacon of hope" for regional movements advocating against the death penalty. However, the group expressed concerns over a provision allowing the death penalty to be reinstated during a state of emergency.

This development follows a parliamentary vote earlier in December to abolish the death penalty. Although Zimbabwe's last execution took place in 2005, courts have continued to impose death sentences for crimes such as murder.

At the end of 2023, approximately 60 individuals were on death row, according to Amnesty. These individuals will now be resentenced, with judges required to consider the severity of their crimes, the duration of their time on death row, and their personal circumstances, as reported by the state-run Herald newspaper.

Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi described the abolition as more than a legal reform, framing it as a reflection of Zimbabwe’s commitment to justice and humanity.

Capital punishment was introduced in Zimbabwe during British colonial rule. President Mnangagwa, a vocal opponent of the death penalty, has drawn on his personal history to advocate for its abolition. In the 1960s, he was sentenced to death for sabotaging a train during the country’s liberation struggle, but his sentence was later reduced to a 10-year prison term.

The newly enacted Death Penalty Abolition Act was published in the government gazette after receiving the president's approval.

Amnesty International highlighted the significance of the decision, labeling it a "major milestone" in the global effort to eradicate capital punishment. The organization urged Zimbabwean authorities to reconsider the clause permitting the death penalty during public emergencies.

Zimbabwe joins 113 countries worldwide, including 24 in Africa, that have fully abolished the death penalty. Amnesty also noted that the countries with the highest execution rates in 2023 included China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, and the United States.

Since gaining independence in 1980, Mnangagwa’s ruling Zanu-PF party has faced criticism from opposition groups and human rights organizations for alleged authoritarian practices aimed at retaining power. Despite this, the abolition of the death penalty is seen as a significant step forward in the nation’s human rights record.