ZIMBABWE: GOVT REMOVES 34 FROM DEATH ROW TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT AS DEATH SENTENCE PHASES OUT

February 6, 2019:

Government has shown its commitment towards abolishing the death penalty in line with international human rights obligations after it commuted sentences of 34 inmates on death row to life terms, a Cabinet minister said on 31 January 2019.
There are 81 prisoners on death row while the total number serving life terms is now 127.
The process of commuting the remainder on death row to life terms is now ongoing.
The moratorium on execution will pave way for the total abolition of the death penalty, according to a paper presented on behalf of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi by a senior ministry official, Mr Charles Manhiri, at the Zimbabwe Staff College.
Government is in the process of implementing strategies and policies aimed at abolishing the death penalty.
Minister Ziyambi said his ministry was waiting for Cabinet to approve its recommendations on the death penalty.
“Should Cabinet approve the ministry’s recommendation to abolish the death penalty, the constitutional provision which permits the imposition of the death penalty will be subsequently amended,” said Minister Ziyambi.