Zimbabwe has formally abolished the death penalty, a move hailed as one of the most progressive human rights actions in the country’s recent history.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa signed into law a bill on 31 December 2024 commuting the sentences of all prisoners on death row to jail time.
The European Union welcomed the abolition, describing it as progressive and in line with global trends to abolish capital punishment.
“With this historic step, Zimbabwe joins the majority of countries in the world having eliminated the capital punishment,” the EU said in a statement late Sunday.
It added: “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 that no compelling evidence exists to show that it serves as a deterrent to crime, while any miscarriages of justice are irreversible.
The European Union called 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 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.”
Zimbabwe had maintained a moratorium on the death penalty since the last execution in 2005.
JN/APA