The Senate of Zimbabwe has taken a significant step towards abolishing the death penalty by approving new legislation aimed at eliminating this controversial punishment, which has not been enforced in nearly two decades.
On Thursday, Parliament confirmed that senators passed the bill the night before.
The death penalty will officially be abolished once President Emmerson Mnangagwa signs it into law, a move that is widely anticipated.
Background on the Death Penalty in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe has historically used hanging as its method of execution, with the last execution occurring in 2005.
This cessation of capital punishment was partly due to a shortage of individuals willing to serve as executioners.
President Mnangagwa, who has been in power since 2017, has expressed his opposition to capital punishment.
He has shared his personal experience of being sentenced to death during the liberation war, a sentence that was later commuted to ten years in prison.
Additionally, he has exercised his presidential powers to grant amnesties that convert death sentences into life imprisonment.
Calls for Immediate Action
Amnesty International has urged President Mnangagwa to sign the bill into law “without delay” and to commute the sentences of those currently on death row.
At present, over 60 prisoners are awaiting execution in Zimbabwe.
According to Amnesty, approximately 75% of countries worldwide have abolished the death penalty.
Zimbabwe is among more than a dozen African nations and over 50 countries globally that still have the death penalty legally established without any official moratorium on its implementation.
Global Context of Executions
In its latest report, Amnesty International documented 1,153 known executions worldwide in 2023, an increase from 883 in the previous year.
However, the number of countries carrying out executions decreased from 20 to 16.
Notably, data from North Korea, Vietnam, and China is often excluded due to a lack of transparency.
China remains the leading country for executions, with thousands believed to have been carried out.
In 2023, Iran and Saudi Arabia accounted for nearly 90% of all reported executions. The United States also saw an increase in executions, rising from 18 in 2022 to 24 in 2023.
Positive Developments in Africa
Amnesty International highlighted that Zimbabwe is one of four African nations—alongside Kenya, Liberia, and Ghana—that have recently made “positive steps” towards abolishing the death penalty.
This movement reflects a broader trend towards re-evaluating capital punishment across the continent.
A Historic Shift for Zimbabwe
The approval of this legislation marks a historic shift for Zimbabwe as it moves towards abolishing the death penalty.
If signed into law by President Mnangagwa, this change could pave the way for more progressive human rights policies in the country and align Zimbabwe with global trends toward eliminating capital punishment.
As advocates continue to push for reform, all eyes will be on the president’s next steps regarding this landmark legislation.
