ZAMBIA: ‘UPHOLD DEATH SENTENCE’

January 17, 2013: In Zambia, delegates to the Luapula Province constitution convention adopted Article 28 (3) which prescribes the death sentence for people convicted of murder and other capital offences. During a heated debate, provincial constitution convention chairperson Katele Kalumba put the clause to a vote and 74 delegates voted in favour of capital punishment while 20 did not want it to be included in the final draft document.
“The clause stands,” Dr Kalumba ruled.
Article 28 (3) of the draft constitution states: “A person may be deprived of life if that person has been convicted of a capital offence and sentenced to death.”
Delegates to the Muchinga Province constitution convention have adopted the death penalty clause in the first draft document.
Article 28, clause 3 of the draft constitution states that a person may be deprived of life if that person has been convicted of a capital offence and sentenced to death.
The clause was retained after elections in which 71 delegates voted in favour of the clause while 21 rejected it. Seven votes were spoiled. (Sources: daily-mail.co.zm, 18/01/2013)