Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 09:58pm on 31 Dec 2024,Tuesday International
Zimbabwe has officially abolished the death penalty with the signing of the Death Penalty Abolition Act by President Emmerson Mnangagwa. This historic move ensures that courts can no longer issue death sentences, and existing death sentences, affecting around 60 prisoners, will be commuted to jail terms. A moratorium on executions had been in place since 2005. Amnesty International hailed the decision, calling it a significant step, though it urged the removal of provisions allowing the death penalty during states of emergency. Zimbabwe joins 24 other sub-Saharan African countries in abolishing the death penalty for all crimes.
