On the occasion of the World Day Against the Death Penalty, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) reaffirms its unequivocal opposition to the death penalty, calls for the repeal of all laws that enable it, and the complete abolition of the death penalty, as it is an affront to the right to life and human dignity.
In commemorating this day, ZLHR commends the Government of Zimbabwe (GoZ) for taking significant steps to abolish the death penalty in Zimbabwe through the enactment of the Death Penalty Abolition Act [Chapter 9:26] of 2024. While the executive arm of the GoZ had maintained a de-facto moratorium on executions for over two decades, the judiciary continued to impose death penalty sentences. ZLHR has long advocated for the abolishment of the death penalty in Zimbabwe in line with international human rights standards. With this legislative reform, Zimbabwe has now positively obtained abolitionist status and joins other countries whose laws have eliminated capital punishment for crimes.
However, ZLHR notes with concern that the law retains a provision that permits the possible reinstatement of the death penalty when any state of public emergency is declared. This caveat regrettably undermines the spirit of complete abolition as envisioned by international human rights instruments and standards, including the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which calls for the total and irreversible abolition of the death penalty. ZLHR is also concerned that the GoZ has not yet ratified the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR, despite numerous recommendations from United Nations member states during the past Cycles of Zimbabwe’s Human Rights Council-led Universal Periodic Review, urging the government to ratify this important treaty.
As underscored by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions; and United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the process of sentencing a person to death and holding them on death row until execution has been found incompatible with States’ obligations to prevent torture and ill-treatment, and is inconsistent with international human rights law.
Therefore, ZLHR stands in solidarity with all those who continue to advocate for the complete and definitive abolition of the death penalty worldwide. The death penalty is cruel, irreversible, and lacks a meaningful deterrent effect on crime. As such, abolition remains the only way to fully uphold and protect the human rights and dignity of all persons, including those convicted of crimes. ZLHR also encourages the government to fully act on the recommendations on abolishing the death penalty, ratifying the ICCPR Second Optional Protocol, amongst others, made by the United Nations Human Rights Committee on 28 March 2025, in the Concluding Observations on the Second Periodic Report of Zimbabwe. The United Nations Human Rights Committee, a treaty-based mechanism, was reviewing the GoZ’s state of compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
On World Day Against the Death Penalty, ZLHR urges the GoZ to:
- Expedite the resentencing process for individuals who had been placed on death row or commute their sentences in accordance with the Death Penalty Abolition Act [Chapter 9:26], ensuring fair and appropriate punishment to prevent any miscarriage of justice.
- Move toward a full abolition of the death penalty by removing the provision allowing for the reinstatement of the death penalty during a declared state of public emergency.
- Support the rehabilitation of former death row inmates, recognising the severe psychological toll endured through a death sentence.
- Sensitise the public on humane alternatives to capital punishment.
- Ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which calls for the abolition of the death penalty without any limitations or exceptions.
/ENDS/
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights
Kodzero/Amalungelo House
No. 103 Sam Nujoma Street, Harare, Zimbabwe
Phone: (+263 8677005347, +263 242 764085/705370/708118
Email: info@zlhr.org
www.zlhr.org.zw
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