Mnangagwa approves law abolishing death penalty; 60 prisoners were on death row

By Agencies

HARARE: Zimbabwe has announced that it has abolished death penalty in its statues nearly 20 years after it carried out its last execution, a top government official said on Tuesday.

Martin Rushwaya, the chief secretary to the Cabinet, said in a government decree that the President Emerson Mnangagwa approved the law this week after the bill had gone through the National Assembly.

With the passing of the Death Penalty Abolition Act 2024, the Southern African nation has become the 127th country in the world to abolish death penalty. The country has about 60 prisoners currently on death row.

M’nangagwa once faced death penalty in the 1960s during the war of liberation known as “Chimurenga.”

Lucia Masuka, the executive director of Amnesty International in the country, applauded Zimbabwe’s decision to abolish the death penalty.

“Amnesty International applauds Zimbabwe’s decision to abolish the death penalty for all crimes, but regrets the possibility of its reinstatement during state of emergency under the Defence Act,” Masuka said in a statement.

“This is not just great progress for Zimbabwe, it is also a beacon of hope for the abolitionist movement in the region, and a major milestone in the global collective pursuit for an end to this ultimate cruel, inhuman, and degrading punishment.

The statement continued; “By enacting the Death Penalty Abolition Bill, Zimbabwe has taken a major step towards aligning its laws with international human rights standards. Its actions also send a clear message about the fundamental importance of protecting the right to life and human dignity.

“We urge the authorities to now swiftly move to a full abolition of the death penalty by removing the clause included in the amendments to the Bill allowing for the use of the death penalty for the duration of any state of public emergency.”

About 24 African countries have fully abolished the death penalty, according to Amnesty International.