Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has approved a law abolishing the death penalty with immediate effect, marking a significant shift in the country’s legal and human rights landscape.

Rights group Amnesty International welcomed the decision, calling it a “beacon of hope for the abolitionist movement in the region.” However, the group expressed concern that the death penalty could still be reinstated during a state of emergency.

Historic Move Following Parliamentary Approval

The abolition comes after Zimbabwe’s parliament voted in December to scrap capital punishment. While the country has not carried out an execution since 2005, courts continued to impose the death penalty for serious crimes, including murder.

At the end of 2023, about 60 individuals remained on death row. According to the state-owned Herald newspaper, these individuals will be re-sentenced, with judges instructed to consider factors such as the nature of their crimes, time spent on death row, and personal circumstances.

A Legacy of Colonial Rule

The death penalty was introduced during British colonial rule and has remained a controversial issue in Zimbabwe. President Mnangagwa, a long-time critic of capital punishment, has cited his personal experience of being sentenced to death in the 1960s for blowing up a train during the guerrilla war for independence. His sentence was later commuted to 10 years in prison.

This decision positions Zimbabwe as a leader in the regional movement against capital punishment, signaling progress in human rights reforms.