Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has signed the Death Penalty Abolition Act into law, eliminating capital punishment in the country. The reform, effective immediately, positions Zimbabwe among a growing number of African nations taking steps toward abolishing the death penalty.
Rights organization Amnesty International lauded the decision as a significant victory for justice and human rights but expressed concern over a clause permitting the penalty’s reinstatement during states of emergency.
Zimbabwe last carried out an execution in 2005, though courts continued to impose death sentences for severe crimes such as murder. As of late 2023, around 60 inmates remained on death row. These individuals will now face re-sentencing, with courts directed to consider factors such as the nature of their crimes, time spent on death row, and personal circumstances.
Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi described the move as a reflection of Zimbabwe’s “commitment to justice and humanity.” He added that the reform transcends legal policy, signaling a progressive shift in the nation’s approach to criminal justice.
The death penalty was a colonial-era policy introduced during British rule, and its abolition represents a key milestone in Zimbabwe’s legal history. President Mnangagwa has been a vocal opponent of the practice, drawing from his personal experience—he was sentenced to death in the 1960s for his role in Zimbabwe’s independence struggle, but his sentence was later commuted.
Amnesty International emphasized the significance of this reform in the global fight against the death penalty, urging Zimbabwe to remove provisions for its reintroduction under emergencies.
With this decision, Zimbabwe becomes the 24th African nation and the 114th country globally to abolish the death penalty.
