Zimbabwe’s Senate Approves Death Penalty Abolition Bill

The abolition bill, passed by the Senate on Wednesday night, reflects the nation’s shifting perspective on human rights and justice reform. Amnesty International has urged swift action, calling on President Mnangagwa to sign the legislation and commute the sentences of over 60 prisoners currently on death row.

ALSO READ: 18-Year-Old Mother Stones 2-Year-Old Son To Death

President Mnangagwa: From Death Sentence to Abolitionist

President Mnangagwa, who has led Zimbabwe since 2017, has been an outspoken critic of the death penalty. His opposition is deeply personal, rooted in his own experience of being sentenced to death during the country’s fight for independence in the 1960s. His sentence was later commuted to a decade in prison.

Since assuming office, Mnangagwa has frequently used presidential amnesties to convert death sentences into life imprisonment. His leadership has been instrumental in steering the country toward abolishing capital punishment.

Global trends on death penalties

Amnesty International reports that approximately three-quarters of the world’s countries have ceased using the death penalty, either through formal abolition or by refraining from executions. Despite this progress, the organization documented 1,153 executions globally in 2023, a notable increase from 883 in 2022.

ALSO READ: ZBC Gets 25 Cars, TV And Radio Broadcasting Equipment

Most executions occurred in a small group of nations. Iran and Saudi Arabia accounted for nearly 90% of executions recorded last year, while China remains the leading global executioner. Amnesty estimates that thousands are executed annually in China, though the exact numbers remain unknown due to state secrecy.

The United States saw a rise in executions, with 24 carried out in 2023 compared to 18 the previous year. Other countries with high execution rates include Somalia and North Korea, though data from the latter is often inaccessible.