By Staff Reporter
Harare – The European Union (EU) has applauded the Zimbabwean government for officially abolishing the death penalty, calling the move a significant step forward in the country’s human rights progress.
Zimbabwe’s decision to eliminate the death penalty aligns with a global trend, as an increasing number of countries have chosen to abolish capital punishment.
The new law spares the lives of approximately 60 prisoners currently on death row. While executions have not been carried out in Zimbabwe since 2005, partly due to the lack of a willing executioner.
Zimbabwe’s abolishment of the death penalty marks a new chapter in the country’s justice system.
In a statement, the EU welcomed Zimbabwe’s decision and urged the government to pursue further human rights reforms.
“The European Union welcomes the abolition of the death penalty in Zimbabwe.
“With this historic step, Zimbabwe joins the majority of countries in the world having eliminated capital punishment,” the EU stated in a press release.
However, the EU also called on Zimbabwe to remove a provision allowing the temporary reintroduction of the death penalty during a state of public emergency.
“The European Union calls on Zimbabwe to take a further step by removing the provision allowing for the temporary reintroduction of the death penalty during a state of public emergency,” the statement added.
The EU reiterated its strong opposition to the death penalty, emphasizing that it violates the fundamental right to life and constitutes a cruel and inhuman punishment. It reaffirmed its global mission to eradicate capital punishment wherever it remains in force.
“The death penalty is incompatible with the inalienable right to life and a cruel and inhuman punishment, representing an unacceptable denial of human dignity and integrity,” it noted.
“The European Union strongly opposes the death penalty in all cases and all circumstances and will continue to work for its abolition in the remaining countries where it is still in force,” read the statement.
The abolition of the death penalty in Zimbabwe follows the efforts of Dzivarasekwa MP Edwin Mushoriwa, who introduced a Private Member’s Bill in 2023.
Mushoriwa sought amendments to Zimbabwe’s Criminal Law Code and the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act to permanently outlaw the death penalty.
This move has been widely lauded as a significant step for Zimbabwe’s justice system and its commitment to upholding human dignity.
