Zimbabwe’s cabinet has endorsed proposed legislation to abolish the death penalty, signaling a significant step in ending capital punishment in the nation.
Information Minister Jenfan Muswere announced the decision on Tuesday Jan 6, stating that it followed extensive consultations nationwide.
If approved by parliament, the bill would establish life imprisonment as the maximum sentence.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has previously voiced opposition to capital punishment, a stance influenced by his own experience: in 1965, he was sentenced to death for alleged involvement in a bombing during the fight against white minority rule, though his sentence was commuted due to his age.
Zimbabwe’s death penalty originates from colonial-era laws, and the nation has not executed anyone since 2005.