Harare, (New Ziana) – The Senate passed the Death Penalty Abolition Bill on Thursday, bringing it closer to enactment as law.
The Bill has already passed through the National Assembly and, after Thursday’s vote in the Senate, now only requires Presidential assent to become law.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, once a death roll prisoner himself, is a strong advocate for scrapping the death penalty, and is likely to assent to the Bill all being equal.
That will make Zimbabwe join the ever-increasing ranks of progressive countries taking down the death penalty from their statutes.
The Bill was introduced as a Private Member’s Bill last year, and attracted a lot of support including from the government.
This resulted in it being adopted by the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs as a government Bill in May this year.
But consideration of the Bill was held up in Parliament following massive recalls of legislators by the opposition, and and subsequently an adverse report by the Parliamentary Legal Committee.
However, combined public pressure, and strong support from government for the Bill soon got it back on parliament’s top to-do list, culminating in Thursday’s vote.
Proponents of the abolishment of the death penalty contend that it does not deter crime but undermines human dignity and disproportionately targets marginalised groups, exacerbating social and economic disparities. It also does not recognise the agony of its hidden victims – the families of accused persons.
They also argue that to create safer, more equitable communities, governments and other responsible authorities must address the root causes of crime and violence, and prioritise the well-being of all individuals.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR), 170 states have either abolished the death penalty or introduced a moratorium on it in law or practice, or have ceased executions for more than 10 years. Zimbabwe falls under the last category.
Equatorial Guinea and Zambia abolished the death penalty last year, while Ghana only retained it for high treason cases.
Several other African countries, including Liberia, Kenya, Cote d’Ivoire, Chad and DRC are at different stages of abolishing it.
New Ziana