Zimbabwe cabinet approves move abolish death penalty

The Zimbabwe cabinet has approved a move abolish death penalty in the country.

“Cabinet considered and approved the Memorandum on the Private Member’s Death Penalty Abolition Bill,” said Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Jenfan Muswere after cabinet’s first seating on Tuesday.

“It is expected that the new law will impose lengthy sentences without violating the right to life. The existence of aggravating circumstances may attract life sentences,” he continued.

Zimbabwe currently has death penalty in place for males between the age of 21 and 70.

However, there has not been an execution since 2005, and so the country is defined as abolitionist de facto.

If passed, Zimbabwe will become the eighth country in the 16-member Southern African Development Community (SADC) to do so.

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