The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has commended President Emmerson Mnangagwa for signing the Death Penalty Abolition Bill into law.
The ZHRC said that the move is an important step in Zimbabwe’s effort to respect and protect human life.
According to the ZHRC, the abolition of the death penalty aligns with Section 48 of the Constitution, which safeguards the right to life.
It also supports sections 51 and 53, which ensure the rights to dignity and freedom from torture, and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment. It said:
<blockquote>
The new Act eliminates the death penalty in Zimbabwe, ensuring no person shall be sentenced to death or executed.
This legislative development aligns with modern human rights standards and reflects the global trend towards the abolition of the death penalty.
Zimbabwe now joins a growing number of nations that have recognised the inherent dignity of every human being, regardless of their past actions…
The abolition of the death penalty is a monumental achievement for human rights in Zimbabwe. It resonates with the fundamental principles of equality, justice and mercy, which are cornerstones of a democratic society.
This development also reinforces Zimbabwe’s alignment with international human rights instruments such as the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
</blockquote>
The Death Penalty Abolition Act has several important parts:
<ul>
<li>Courts can no longer give the death penalty for any crime.</li>
<li>Death sentences will be replaced with other suitable punishments.</li>
<li>Prisoners currently on death row will be re-sentenced, taking into account their individual situations, such as how long they have been in prison and their health conditions.</li>
</ul>
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has also urged the government to agree to international treaties, especially:
<ul>
<li>The UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT)</li>
<li>The UN Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (CED.</li>
</ul>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission praised President Mnangagwa for banning the death penalty. This decision respects human life and aligns with the constitution. Now, no one in Zimbabwe can be sentenced to death or executed. The country is following modern human rights rules. Courts will find new penalties for crimes instead of death. Prisoners on death row will get new sentences based on their situations. The ZHRC wants Zimbabwe to support international treaties against torture and enforced disappearances. This move is a big step for human rights in Zimbabwe and shows respect for all people, regardless of their past.

Human Rights Commission Commends Mnangagwa For Abolishing Death Penalty

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has officially signed the Death Penalty Abolition Bill into law, marking a significant milestone, 19 years after Zimbabwe executed its last prisoner.
This landmark legislation passed through Parliament last month and is poised to spare numerous convicts from the gallows.
Those currently on death row will have their sentences reviewed, with judges instructed to take into account the nature of their crimes, the duration they have spent awaiting execution, and their individual circumstances.
The announcement was made by Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Martin Rushwaya, in an Extraordinary Government Gazette published on Tuesday. The notice reads:
<blockquote>
The following laws, which were assented to by His Excellency the President, are published in terms of section 131(6)(a) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe—Death Penalty Abolition Act [Chapter 9:26] (No. 4 of 2024)…
</blockquote>
Mnangagwa, who himself was sentenced to death by former Prime Minister Ian Smith’s White-minority government during Zimbabwe’s war for independence, has long been a staunch opponent of capital punishment.
In the 1960s, he received a death sentence for blowing up a train during the guerrilla struggle, but his sentence was later commuted to 10 years in prison.
With the signing of the Death Penalty Abolition Bill, Zimbabwe now joins more than two-thirds of the world’s nations that have abolished the death penalty in law or practice.
Currently, the country has 65 prisoners on death row, with the last execution carried out in 2005.
The Bill was initially introduced by Edwin Mushoriwa (CCC), the Member of Parliament for Dzivaresekwa before the Government took over its advancement due to its significant implications.
Following the gazetting of the Act, individuals convicted of murder under aggravating circumstances will now face a prison sentence ranging from 20 years to life imprisonment. Clause Two of the Act states:
<blockquote>
No court shall impose sentence of death upon a person for any offence, whenever committed, but instead shall impose whatever other competent sentence is appropriate in the circumstances of the case.
The Supreme Court shall not confirm a sentence of death imposed upon an appellant, whenever that sentence may have been imposed, but instead shall substitute whatever other competent sentence is appropriate in the circumstances of the case, no sentence of death, whenever imposed, shall be carried out.
</blockquote>
Rights group Amnesty International hailed the decision as a “beacon of hope for the abolitionist movement in the region”, but expressed regret that the death penalty could be reinstated during a state of emergency.
Other laws that the president assented to and published in yesterday’s Gazette include the Appropriation (2025) Act and the Finance (No. 2) Act, which seeks to give legal effect to various fiscal measures announced by Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Mthuli Ncube in his 2025 National Budget.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Zimbabwe's president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, has signed a law to abolish the death penalty. This means no more executions in the country. People on death row will have their sentences reviewed. The president, who was once sentenced to death himself, is against capital punishment. Zimbabwe now joins many other countries that have gotten rid of the death penalty. The decision was praised by Amnesty International. Now, people convicted of murder will face prison sentences instead of death. This new law is a big step forward for the country.

Zimbabwe Abolishes Death Penalty

The Death Penalty Abolition Bill has successfully passed through the Senate and is now awaiting President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s approval to become law, reported <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/death-penalty-abolition-bill-sails-through-senate/">NewZimbabwe.com</a>.
The last execution in Zimbabwe occurred nearly two decades ago, in 2005, and currently, there are over 60 prisoners on death row.
Mnangagwa has publicly opposed capital punishment, sharing his own experience of having a death sentence commuted to 10 years in prison for a crime committed during the 1960s.
After a lengthy debate in the Senate, the Bill was read for the second time with minimal amendments and subsequently read for the third time without any further changes before being passed.
Before the Senate’s approval, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi warned members about the sensitivity of the issue. He said:
<blockquote>
I stand before this House to seek the abolition of the death penalty. The deliberation will be emotional.
Not of this or that other human being but as part of human beings whose crimes are such of a heinous nature that our society is called to legislate that they must die if found guilty by the court of law.
Almost all cultures in Zimbabwe have marked out certain crimes to be deserving capital punishment. Our indigenous culture had less problems and messier than any foreign culture. The deserving of death has been perceived to be inhuman.
Culturally and historically, before colonisers came to our country, we had no death penalty. In vernacular, we would say “Mushonga wengozi kuiripa, kwete kuuraya”.
Our culture does not allow us to kill someone because they have murdered someone. In Shona we would say, “Ngozi inoripwa”. That is the point that I am trying to put across Mr. President.
Can the death penalty actually deter crimes or not? Also, let us not forget that the death penalty is irreversible.
</blockquote>
Senator Sukai Tongogara described the death penalty abolition as a “landmark piece of legislation” aimed at fundamentally transforming Zimbabwe’s criminal justice system.
She said the Bill reflects a global trend toward abolishing capital punishment and highlighted the responsibility of legislators to uphold justice and human dignity.
Tongogara noted that 112 countries have abolished the death penalty for all crimes, with 142 being abolitionist in law or practice.
By adopting this Bill, she argued, Zimbabwe would reinforce its commitment to human rights and position itself as a progressive nation.
However, Senator Linda Sibanda shared her personal connection to the death penalty abolition.
She revealed that her cousin, Hilary Muleya, had recently been murdered, and the perpetrator remains unknown.
Sibanda, who will soon attend her cousin’s funeral, conveyed her pain at the thought of sparing a murderer who shows no remorse for their actions, particularly towards vulnerable people. She said:
<blockquote>
It is so painful to just spare a murderer who does not even show any remorse to a helpless young lady on the streets who just knocked off from work.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Zimbabwe's Senate approved a Bill to get rid of the death penalty. The last execution was in 2005. President Mnangagwa supports ending the death penalty. The Senate debated and passed the Bill. One senator said it will transform Zimbabwe's justice system. Another senator shared a personal story about a murder in her family. The Bill reflects a global trend to end the death penalty. Some senators worry about letting murderers go free. It is now up to the President to make it a law.

Zimbabwe Senate Approves Death Penalty Abolition Bill

The Parliament of Zimbabwe is set to start public hearings to abolish the death penalty on Monday. The public hearings will be led by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200026352/public-hearings-on-death-penalty-begin">reported NewsDay</a>.
The Member of Parliament for Dzivaresekwa, Edwin Mushoriwa (CCC), raised the motion for the introduction of the Abolition of the Death Penalty Bill in Parliament in 2023 and in February 2024, Cabinet agreed to abolish the death penalty for murder offences.
In 2005, Zimbabwe carried out its most recent execution, even though 62 convicted prisoners currently await their fate on death row.
The Zimbabwean Constitution upholds the death sentence, but it specifically excludes women, men under the age of 21, and men over the age of 70 from execution.
Since 1976, more than 85 nations have abolished the death penalty for all crimes, while others have abolished it for ordinary crimes. Portugal was the first to abolish the death penalty for all crimes in 1976.
The global trend leans toward abolition, and opponents of capital punishment argue that it is not a more effective deterrent than life imprisonment.
However, supporters of the death penalty claim it deters potentially violent offenders who are not sufficiently restrained by the threat of imprisonment alone.
Zimbabwe’s current President, Emmerson Mnangagwa is strongly opposed to the death penalty after he reportedly avoided the hangman’s noose on a technicality during the colonial era.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Public Hearings On Death Penalty To Commence Next Week

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi has said the adverse report on the Death Penalty Abolition Bill by Parliament’s Legal Committee (PLC) will not stop the Bill from sailing through both Houses of Parliament.
On one hand, the PLC argued that the Constitution allows the death penalty for aggravated murder by an adult and so abolishing the death penalty requires a constitutional amendment.
On the other hand, supporters of the Bill argue that the Constitution simply allows Parliament to pass a law allowing the death penalty but does not require Parliament to do so.
In an interview with <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/death-penalty-abolition-on-course/">The Herald</a> on Sunday, Ziyambi said the Cabinet had already adopted a decision to support the Bill, therefore, he did not expect the PLC’s adverse report on the Bill to affect it. Said Ziyambi:
<blockquote>
We have noted the adverse report from the PLC in its exercise of its mandate to scrutinise all Bills and Statutory Instruments coming before Parliament.
There will be an engagement of all stakeholders so that nothing will stall its passage. There are a number of ways to deal with it; one of which includes to have the PLC to withdraw its adverse report.
But the bottom line is the Bill is on course to sail through Parliament. Remember, Cabinet has given its nod to have the Bill sail through Parliament.
</blockquote>
The proposed law was brought to Parliament through a Private Members Bill by Dzivarasekwa legislator Edwin Mushoriwa (CCC).
In presenting the adverse report, PLC chairperson Itayi Ndudzo (ZANU PF), who is the Hwedza South MP, said they felt that its enactment contravened Section (2) and Section 48 (2) of the Constitution in that it sought to abolish what has been permitted by the Constitution. Ndudzo said:
<blockquote>
It is inconsistent with the spirit and purpose of Section 48 (2) which is permissive to a death penalty law being enacted. Section 328 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe defines a Constitutional Bill as a Bill that seeks to amend the Constitution.
Subsection (2) further states that an Act of Parliament that amends the Constitution must do so in express terms. The import of the Death Penalty Abolition Bill in fact, seeks to amend the provisions of the Constitution, in particular Section 48 (2) of the Constitution. The Bill is not a Constitutional Bill as it does not expressly state that it seeks to amend the Constitution.
Therefore, the proposed Bill takes away the permissive intention of the Constitution to have a death penalty and in any case, if any amendment is to be proposed on the death penalty, it is our considered opinion that it has to be introduced as a Constitutional Amendment Bill.
</blockquote>
However, commenting on the PLC report in the National Assembly last week, Mushoriwa said he did not agree with their observations.
Mushoriwa said Section 48 of the Constitution seeks to protect the right to life which is what his Bill seeks to achieve. He added:
<blockquote>
The second issue is that if you read Section 48 (2), it says a law may permit the death penalty to be imposed only on a person convicted of murder committed in aggravating circumstances.
“The key word there is ‘may’. It is not saying a law must. What has happened, Honourable Chair, is that the death penalty is not a creation of the Constitution, but what has happened is that the framers of the 2013 Constitution gave that power to the people of Zimbabwe and to their Parliament to either make a law or not to make a law that introduces a death penalty.
This is the reason, I believe that the point of departure which I believe the Committee erred is not to remove or to temper with the provision.
The power of the Constitution is not being taken away. In fact, what this means is that this Parliament should pass this Bill and I am glad that two days ago, the Cabinet of Zimbabwe led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa approved the principles of this Bill having gone through the various technical support in the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and the other arms of Government.
</blockquote>
Amnesty International recently commended the move by Zimbabwe’s cabinet to back abolition of the death penalty saying capital punishment “has no place in our world.”
At independence in 1980, there were nine crimes punishable by death under Zimbabwean law. Currently, offenders cab be sentenced to death for three offences, namely treason; where the act of insurgency, banditry, sabotage or terrorism results in the death of a person; for murder and for attempted murder or incitement or conspiracy to commit murder.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Capital Punishment Latest News

Latest Jobs