Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa

ZAMBIA. DEATH PENALTY WILL STAY ON STATUTE BOOKS - MINISTER

February 23, 2007: Justice Minister George Kunda told the Zambian Parliament that the death penalty will stay on the statute books despite President Mwanawasa not signing any death warrants.
Mapatizya Member of Parliament Ackson Sejani (UPND) wanted to know why the death penalty was being maintained when it was not being implemented.
In an earlier response, Justice Deputy Minister Bradford Machila said 41 people have been sentenced to death since 2001 although none of them was executed. Chasefu MP Chifumu Banda (FDD) asked whether the President had the discretion not to follow the law by refusing to sign death warrants. Mr Kunda said he had. (Sources: AllAfrica.com, 24/02/2007)