Zimbabwe’s cabinet has endorsed a proposed law to abolish the death penalty, signaling a significant step towards eliminating capital punishment in the southern African nation.
According to Information Minister Jenfan Muswere, the cabinet’s decision was the result of extensive consultations conducted across the country. If the bill receives approval from parliament, life imprisonment will become the maximum sentence.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who has previously spoken out against capital punishment, faced a death sentence in 1965 for allegedly bombing a train during the struggle for independence from British colonists. However, his sentence was commuted after his legal team argued that he was underage at the time.
Zimbabwe’s death penalty is rooted in a colonial-era law, and the country has not executed anyone since 2005. The cabinet’s support for the legislation reflects a move towards aligning the country’s legal system with contemporary human rights standards.
