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Zimbabwe Abolishes Death Penalty Under President Mnangagwa, With Emergency Clause

Dec 31, 2024, 10:06 PM

Zimbabwe has officially abolished the death penalty, a move that was signed into law by President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Tuesday. The new law, known as the Death Penalty Abolition Act, will commute the sentences of approximately 60 prisoners currently on death row to jail time. The country had maintained a moratorium on executions since 2005, although courts continued to issue death sentences for crimes such as murder, treason, and terrorism. The abolition marks a significant shift in policy, with courts now prohibited from issuing death sentences for any offense. However, the law includes a provision allowing the death penalty to be reinstated during a state of emergency. Amnesty International has praised the move as a 'historic moment' and urged for the complete removal of the emergency clause to achieve full abolition.