A new law could change Zimbabwe’s history: senators have voted to abolish the death penalty. This marks a major step forward for human rights.
Zimbabwe is on the verge of bidding farewell to the death penalty, a law that has not been enforced for nearly 20 years. The Senate has approved a bill to abolish it. All that remains is President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s signature for this decision to become law.
This southern African country used hanging as its method of execution. However, since 2005, no executions have taken place, partly because finding an executioner proved challenging. President Mnangagwa, a former death row inmate himself, is a staunch opponent of the practice. « Life is precious, and no one should have the power to take it away, » he declared.
For human rights advocates, such as Amnesty International, this decision is significant. The organization has urged the president to swiftly sign the law and commute death sentences to life imprisonment. Currently, more than 60 prisoners are on death row in Zimbabwe.
With this move, Zimbabwe joins numerous countries saying no to capital punishment. It’s a victory for human rights and a powerful message for Africa and the rest of the world.
