HARARE, Zimbabwe — Zimbabwe has officially abolished the death penalty, a significant legal reform that comes almost two decades after its last execution in 2005. President Emmerson Mnangagwa approved the new law this week, following its passage in Parliament. The law spares around 60 prisoners currently on death row, marking a pivotal moment in the nation’s human rights landscape.

The abolition of capital punishment has been a widely anticipated move, especially given that executions had ceased largely due to a lack of willing executioners. Mnangagwa, who himself faced a death sentence during Zimbabwe's struggle for independence, has openly opposed capital punishment. He has previously cited his own experience of being sentenced to death—later commuted to ten years—when he was convicted for blowing up a train during the conflict against colonial rule.

The newly enacted Death Penalty Abolition Act will require the courts to commute existing death sentences to life imprisonment. However, a clause remains allowing for the potential reinstatement of the death penalty during states of emergency, a provision that has drawn criticism from rights groups. Notably, Amnesty International described the law as “a beacon of hope for the abolitionist movement in the region”.

Across Africa, a number of nations, including Kenya, Liberia, and Ghana, have taken steps towards abolishing the death penalty, though legislation has yet to follow. Currently, 24 African countries have fully abolished it, among the 113 countries worldwide that have eliminated capital punishment.

Amnesty International reported that in 2023, there were 1,153 known executions globally, an increase from 883 in 2022. The organization highlighted that countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia conducted the majority of these executions, underscoring the ongoing global debate surrounding capital punishment.

This landmark decision in Zimbabwe reflects a broader commitment to human rights and justice reform as the nation moves forward under Mnangagwa's leadership.

For further details, read the full stories on India Times, Le Monde, and South China Morning Post.