Major step forward: Zimbabwe senate approves death penalty end

Zimbabwe’s Senate has taken a major step toward abolishing the death penalty, a significant move in the country’s human rights progress. On Thursday, the country’s Parliament confirmed that the bill to end capital punishment had been passed the night before. Once signed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the bill will officially end the death penalty, a law that has not been carried out in nearly 20 years.

The last execution in Zimbabwe occurred in 2005, with hanging being the method of execution used. The country’s struggle to find willing executioners has been one factor in the cessation of executions. This shift reflects broader changes in global attitudes toward the death penalty, with increasing calls for its abolition due to concerns about its human rights implications.

President Mnangagwa, who has been in power since 2017, has long been opposed to capital punishment. His personal history includes being sentenced to death during Zimbabwe’s independence war, a sentence that was later commuted to ten years in prison. As president, Mnangagwa has used his authority to grant amnesties, converting death sentences into life imprisonment for many individuals.

Amnesty International has welcomed Zimbabwe’s move and urged the president to sign the bill into law without delay. The organization has also called for the commutation of death sentences for those currently on death row. Zimbabwe’s death row holds more than 60 individuals awaiting execution. Amnesty’s push for swift action highlights the global momentum toward the abolition of the death penalty, with around three-quarters of the world’s countries having already abolished the practice.

Despite this trend, Zimbabwe remains one of more than 50 countries globally, and over a dozen in Africa, where the death penalty is still legally sanctioned, although it has not been actively implemented for many years. The country is part of a group of nations where the death penalty remains on the books without any official suspension or moratorium on executions. However, the passing of this bill signals a decisive move away from the practice.

In 2023, Amnesty International reported a rise in executions worldwide, with 1,153 known executions carried out—up from 883 the previous year. The increase in executions came despite a reduction in the number of countries carrying out these executions, which fell from 20 to 16. These figures, however, exclude the high numbers of executions believed to take place in countries like China, North Korea, and Vietnam, where data is difficult to verify due to a lack of transparency. Amnesty’s October report identified China as the world’s leading executioner, with thousands of executions believed to have occurred, though the exact number remains unknown. Iran and Saudi Arabia were responsible for nearly 90% of executions recorded globally in 2023.

The United States also saw an uptick in executions in 2023, with 24 executions compared to 18 the year prior. Countries such as China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, and the United States were the most prominent executioners globally in 2023. The rising number of executions underscores the ongoing debate about capital punishment and its ethical and legal implications.

Zimbabwe’s decision is part of a broader trend across Africa. Alongside Zimbabwe, countries like Kenya, Liberia, and Ghana have taken significant steps toward abolishing the death penalty. Amnesty International has lauded these “positive steps” in the continent, noting that many African nations are moving away from the practice as global attitudes shift toward the protection of human rights and the abolition of capital punishment.

The passage of the bill in Zimbabwe represents a crucial moment in the country’s efforts to align with international human rights standards. It also reflects broader regional trends in Africa, where the death penalty is increasingly seen as a practice incompatible with modern values of justice and human dignity. While Zimbabwe’s death penalty abolition is not yet finalized, the Senate’s approval and the expected presidential signature are a clear sign of progress toward ending this controversial practice.

In conclusion, Zimbabwe’s Senate approval of the bill to abolish the death penalty marks a historic step in the country’s political and human rights landscape. With President Mnangagwa’s anticipated signature, Zimbabwe will join a growing list of nations ending capital punishment, aligning with global trends toward abolition. The move will undoubtedly spark further discussions on the future of the death penalty in Africa and the world.

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Ama Oprah

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