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    HomeProvincial NewspapersGweru residents add voice to death penalty abolition

    Gweru residents add voice to death penalty abolition

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    Ceicilia Zimba

    GWERU — In a heartfelt plea for justice reform, Gweru residents who attended a public hearing on the Death Penalty Abolition Bill recently called for the abolition of the death penalty, denouncing it as inhumane and devoid of the opportunity for perpetrators to redeem themselves.

    The voices of the community were heard during a public hearing on the Bill, convened by the Joint Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and led by Masvingo-Zaka senator, Robson Mavhenyengwa.

    Expressing their support for the abolition of the bill, residents said the current legislation failed to uphold principles of fairness and compassion.

    Hazel Denhere, a resident of Mkoba, articulated the sentiments shared by many present, advocating for a more rehabilitative approach to dealing with criminals.

    “The reason why there are prisons in this country is that criminals go there to be corrected of their mistakes, and that is why it is called a correctional service. People should instead be given a second chance at life, rather than facing the death penalty,” remarked Denhere.

    Furthermore, residents highlighted the lack of empirical evidence supporting the efficacy of the death penalty in deterring violent crimes such as murder.

    One resident underscored the absence of scientific proof that capital punishment serves as a deterrent, questioning the validity of its continued use in the justice system.

    Evidence Chipadza, a member of the Women Coalition of Zimbabwe, highlighted the plight of individuals who may have been wrongfully convicted and faced with the ultimate punishment of death.

    “I am in support of the death penalty abolition bill because some of the people in prisons or who get arrested are framed and would not have committed the crime.

    “The authorities might later establish that the person was wrongfully convicted and hanged when it will be too late and not able to bring back that life,” she said.

    Residents called for fair and just legal system that safeguards against miscarriages of justice. They argued that death does not serve as a corrective measure, advocating instead for alternative forms of punishment that allow individuals to atone for their actions through hard labour and restitution.

    Sikululiwe Tshuma expressed the ripple effects of the death penalty on the families of those sentenced to die, urging lawmakers to consider the emotional toll and lasting impact on loved ones.

    “The death penalty abolition bill should be passed into law as the death penalty affects family members of the person who is sentenced to death,” stated Tshuma, shedding light on the broader repercussions of capital punishment beyond the individual offender.

    Another resident highlighted the emotional toll inflicted on families of the convicted, particularly parents who endure the trauma of seeing their loved ones sentenced to death. “The death sentence traumatises the family of the convicted, especially the parents, and triggers bitterness in the family,” said the resident, underlining the far-reaching consequences of capital punishment beyond the individual offender.

    Carol Chipuriro underscored the importance of recognising mental health issues in offenders and providing adequate support and treatment within the criminal justice system.

    “Some offenders commit crimes as a result of mental health issues, so these people must be put in jail so that they are put on medication and become changed individuals,” she said and advocated for a rehabilitative approach that addresses the root causes of criminal behaviour.

    However a few residents among the attendees were not in favour of the abolition of the death penalty, expressing concerns that removing this ultimate punishment may embolden potential offenders.

    One resident argued that the fear of facing the death penalty serves as a deterrent against heinous crimes such as murder, asserting that perpetrators should face the most severe consequences for taking another person’s life.

    “If a person commits murder they must be sentenced to death since they would have cut another person’s life,” one resident said.

    In response to the diverse range of perspectives, the Joint Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs leader Mavhenyengwa reaffirmed their commitment to engage with citizens across the country to gather views on the death penalty abolition bill.

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