Zimbabwe Passes Bill to Abolish Death Penalty
Both Houses of Parliament in Zimbabwe have passed the Death Penalty Abolition Bill. This is a rare agreement between Members of Parliament and Senators from the ruling Zanu PF party and the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).
The Bill aims to end the death penalty, which people worldwide criticize for violating human dignity. It is now waiting for the President’s approval.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who narrowly avoided execution during the liberation struggle, has publicly spoken against the death penalty.
In the Senate, Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi praised an opposition member for introducing the Bill. “I want to thank and congratulate the Senators for this historic occasion; it is historic because this Bill was not started by the government, but by a member of the opposition,” Ziyambi said. “This shows that we can work together on important national issues.”
Edwin Mushoriwa, a legislator from Dzivarasekwa (CCC), proposed the motion to change the law to remove the death penalty.
Ziyambi argued that the death penalty does not stop crime, citing studies that show no decrease in murder or terrorism where it is enforced. He stressed the need to address the root causes of crime.
In February, the Cabinet agreed to abolish the death penalty for murder offenses, nearly 20 years after the last execution. Currently, 62 inmates at Harare Central Prison are on death row.
With this Bill, Zimbabwe joins over 170 countries that have ended or suspended the death penalty.
-Newday
