ZLHR Calls for Complete Abolition of Death Penalty on World Day Against It

The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has reiterated its firm opposition to the death penalty, urging the government to repeal all laws that allow it and to move toward full and irreversible abolition.

 

In a statement marking the World Day Against the Death Penalty, ZLHR commended the Government of Zimbabwe (GoZ) for enacting the Death Penalty Abolition Act [Chapter 9:26] of 2024, which officially abolished capital punishment in the country. The organization noted that although the executive had maintained a de facto moratorium on executions for over two decades, the judiciary continued to impose death sentences.

 

“The legislative reform grants Zimbabwe abolitionist status and aligns the country with other nations that have eliminated the death penalty,” ZLHR said.

 

However, the organization expressed concern over a provision in the law allowing the reinstatement of the death penalty during a declared state of public emergency. ZLHR described this as undermining the spirit of full abolition, as envisaged by international human rights standards, including the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

 

ZLHR further highlighted that Zimbabwe has yet to ratify the Second Optional Protocol, despite repeated recommendations from the United Nations Human Rights Committee during the country’s Universal Periodic Review cycles. The committee’s Concluding Observations on 28 March 2025 urged Zimbabwe to ratify the treaty and fully abolish capital punishment.

 

The lawyers’ organization also cited UN Special Rapporteurs, noting that sentencing individuals to death and keeping them on death row until execution is incompatible with obligations to prevent torture and inhuman treatment.

 

ZLHR’s statement called for the government to:

 

Expedite the resentencing or commutation of all former death row inmates under the Death Penalty Abolition Act.

Remove the provision allowing for death penalty reinstatement during states of emergency.

Support the rehabilitation of former death row prisoners, recognizing the severe psychological impact of death sentences.

Sensitize the public on humane alternatives to capital punishment.

Ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR to ensure irreversible abolition.

 

“The death penalty is cruel, irreversible, and has no proven deterrent effect on crime. Abolition remains the only way to protect the human rights and dignity of all persons,” ZLHR said.

 

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