The African country of Zimbabwe has officially abolished the death penalty. Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has signed into law abolishing the death penalty. As a result, the sentences of about 60 prisoners on death row are being commuted. Capital punishment was in force during the British colonial rule in the country.
This information was given in a report of the news agency AFP last Tuesday.
The new law will come into effect immediately. However, the new law says that during the state of emergency in the country, if necessary, someone can be sentenced to death. Amnesty International expressed concern about this provision.
In this regard, Zimbabwe's Minister of Justice Ziambi Ziambi said, “This is our commitment to justice and humanity.”
Zimbabwe last carried out the death penalty by hanging in 2005. However, courts continue to impose the death penalty for crimes such as murder, treason and terrorism.
By the end of 2023, 60 people had been sentenced to death in Zimbabwe, according to Amnesty International.
