The Malawi Supreme Court has outlawed the death penalty, ruling on Wednesday that corporal punishment violates the constitutional rights of offenders.
In a ruling following an appeal by a convicted murderer, the court said the death penalty “is tainted by the unconstitutionality discussed” and ordered that those sentenced to death be re-sentenced.
The ruling may see existing death penalty sentences being commuted to life imprisonment.
Malawi has maintained the death penalty for those convicted of murder or treason, although it has not carried any executions since 1994.
A number of those sentenced to death in recent years were convicted of ritual murders of people living with albinism, which has been one of the main challenges faced by country over the past decade.
JN/APA