MP Mambipiri Calls for Urgent Abolition of Death Penalty

Zimbabwe’s death penalty debate is gaining renewed urgency as Kadoma Central legislator Gift Mambipiri demands its immediate abolition. He regards capital punishment as a colonial relic that Zimbabwe must swiftly eliminate.

Speaking in Parliament, Mambipiri pointed out that while Zimbabwe has halted executions, the legal framework still allows for capital punishment. He urged lawmakers to expedite the process of banning it entirely.

According to Mambipiri, abolishing the death penalty would align Zimbabwe with its Southern African neighbors, such as South Africa, Namibia, and Zambia, all of which have removed this outdated practice. He also highlighted global trends in rejecting capital punishment.

He cited data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, noting that 170 states have either abolished the death penalty or imposed moratoriums on its use. This growing international momentum against capital punishment serves as a powerful signal.

Mambipiri underscored that Zimbabwe falls under countries that have not carried out executions for more than a decade. However, he stressed that simply pausing executions is not enough—Zimbabwe must legislate to permanently abolish the practice.

The death penalty debate in Zimbabwe has been gaining traction in recent years. In 2023, MP Edwin Mushoriwa introduced a Private Member’s Bill to abolish the death penalty. The Bill gained bipartisan support and marked a significant step toward its abolition.

By May 2024, the Bill had undergone its second reading in Parliament and was taken over by the Minister of Justice, signaling that the government is now actively pursuing the law’s abolition.

Mambipiri emphasized the need for Parliament to act quickly, especially after President Emmerson Mnangagwa called for the Bill’s passage during his State of the Nation Address (SONA). The President’s words added further pressure on lawmakers to expedite the process.

The death penalty remains a polarizing issue globally, but support for its abolition is growing. Zimbabwe, with its history of halting executions, seems poised to join the majority of nations that have taken steps toward justice reform.

The abolition of the death penalty is not just a matter of legal reform but a reflection of Zimbabwe’s broader push to distance itself from colonial-era policies. For Mambipiri, removing this “colonial legacy” law would be a symbol of the country’s progress.

October 10 marks the World Day Against the Death Penalty, and in 2024, the world will commemorate the 22nd anniversary of this global movement. Zimbabwe’s potential abolition of the death penalty could become a focal point in these discussions.

For Mambipiri, the time for Zimbabwe to act is now. Abolishing capital punishment would mark a significant milestone in the country’s human rights history, bringing it closer to global standards of justice.

The Zim Bulletin