Zimbabwe Abolishes Murder of a Woman in Semarang – Here's the Story”>Death Penalty
Zimbabwe has officially abolished the 2024/international” title=”The Death Penalty in 2024: International – Death Penalty Information Center”>death penalty, with President Emmerson Mnangagwa signing the bill into law on the last day of 2024. The parliament had already approved the proposal in early December. This move brings Zimbabwe in line with many other African nations that have either abolished or imposed a moratorium on capital punishment.
While the death penalty was still on the books for severe crimes like murder, it had not been carried out since 2005. Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, who advocated for the abolition, cited the lack of a deterrent effect on crime as a key reason. He also mentioned the difficulty in finding a willing executioner, despite the high compensation offered.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime reported that in 2023, 60 Zimbabwan prisoners were facing death sentences. These sentences will now be commuted to life imprisonment, in some cases without the possibility of parole.
Amnesty International welcomed the move, noting that Zimbabwe joins a growing list of African countries turning away from the death penalty. With this new law, Zimbabwe signals its commitment to human rights and the value of all lives in its society.
