Staff Reporter

The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has commended the government for its decision to abolish the death penalty.

In a statement issued yesterday, the ZHRC celebrated the historic signing of the Death Penalty Abolition Act of 2024.

The body, which is responsible for safeguarding human rights, lauded the development as a major step in Zimbabwe’s commitment to upholding the sanctity of human life, as enshrined in Section 48 of the Constitution, which protects the right to life, alongside Sections 51 and 53, which guarantee the rights to dignity and freedom from torture, cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.

"This landmark step is a significant milestone in Zimbabwe's commitment to upholding human life and aligning with modern human rights standards. It also reflects the global trend towards the abolition of the death penalty,” the commission stated

Zimbabwe now joins a growing number of nations that have recognized the inherent dignity of every human being, regardless of their past actions. The ZHRC further commended the unity demonstrated by political leaders across the political divide.

"The ZHRC highly commends the unity of purpose demonstrated by political leadership, particularly Honourable Edwin Mushonga, who introduced the private member's bill in November 2023, Honourable Ziyambi Ziyambi, who facilitated the bill’s passage, the Members of Parliament as a whole, and President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who signed the bill into law. We urge such unity to continue for the sake of promoting human rights," urged the ZHRC

The abolition of the death penalty is seen as a significant achievement for Zimbabwe, as it aligns with the fundamental principles of equality, justice, and mercy, which are cornerstones of democracy.

"This development also reinforces Zimbabwe's alignment with international human rights instruments, such as the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights." said the commission.

The ZHRC also called for the exemption of individuals currently on death row.

"We call on all stakeholders, government bodies, civil society, and citizens to support the full implementation of this act and work collectively towards building a Zimbabwe where justice, equality, and respect prevail. As a priority, we urge the responsible authorities to ensure the expedited and fair re-sentencing of those on death row, and we will monitor this process closely" the commission pressed.

Meanwhile, the abolition of the death penalty in Zimbabwe has been noted as a significant advancement for human rights.