This African nation abolishes death penalty law

Death penalty law abolished in Zimbabwe

Human rights advocates Amnesty International have hailed the country for the efforts to abolish the law and describe it “beacon of hope for the abolitionist movement in the region”.

Southern Africa country Zimbabwe have abolished its national death penalty law. President Emmerson Mnangagwa has approved the law with immediate effect.

Mnangagwa’s approval comes after the national parliament voted in earlier December 2024 to scrap the penalty law.

The last time Zimbabwe carried out an execution by hanging was in 2005 however courts in the country continue to hand down death sentence for serious crimes like murder.

By Akyereko Frimpong