HOC meets the vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Mutsvangwa

ZIMBABWE: HANDS OFF CAIN MEETS THE VICE-MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO URGE A VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE UN RESOLUTION ON THE MORATORIUM

November 13, 2014: The delegation of the Hands Off Cain and the Nonviolent Radical Party, Transnational and Transparty, composed of Sergio D’Elia, Marco Perduca and Marco Maria Freddi, accompanied by H.E. Enrico De Agostini Ambassador of Italy and Ms. Paula Vazquez, of the EU delegation in Harare, met today the Hon. Christopher H. Mutsvangwa, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Zimbabwe of the Zanu-PF Party. The objective of the HOC/NRP mission is to enlarge the number of countries that support the pro-Moratorium resolution currently being debated before the General Assembly of the United Nations. Harare is the first stop of a three-country mission and the objective of the trip is to urge Zimbabwe to vote in favour of the resolution in New York.
The Hon. Mutsvangwa, who is personally against the death penalty, reminded delegates that in 2013 Zimbabwe changed its Constitution excluding the death penalty for women, and male citizens below the age of 21 and above 70, restricting it for the most serious crimes. Mr. Mutsvangwa also informed the delegation of some doubts raised by several jurists that that such a provision may pose problems concerning gender discrimination.
“A vote in favor of the resolution”, said the Radical delegation, “would confirm the existing de facto moratorium that characterizes the country, where no one has be put to death since 2003”. The delegation clearly stated that “Zimbabwe is therefore in a position to change its vote at the UN come December”. Since 2007, Zimbabwe has always voted against the resolution. Deputy Minister Mutsvangwa appreciated the fact that “the moratorium is characterized by the request to open a dialog, something that is not present when we speak about abolition”. He also acknowledged the importance of the existence of a “trans-regional coalition that sees countries from all continents co-sponsoring the text”.
Lastly, Mr. Mutsvangwa recognized the need to correspond to this request of dialog at the National and regional level, stressing the importance of involving all members of the Southern African Development Community on the matter. Zimbabwe is the current chair of the SADC.
Tomorrow morning, the delegation will meet the Hon. Emmerson Mnangagwa, Minister of Justice, a renowned abolitionist, and the Hon. Jacob Mudenda, Speaker of the House of Assembly. (Sources: HOC, 13/11/2014)