HARARE, January 1, 2025 — Zimbabwe has officially abolished the death penalty, with sentences for prisoners currently on death row now set to be reviewed, according to a government gazette published on Tuesday.
The new law prohibits courts from imposing the death penalty for any crime, and the Supreme Court is barred from confirming existing death sentences.
“No court shall impose a sentence of death upon a person for any offence, whenever committed, but instead shall impose whatever other competent sentence is appropriate in the circumstances of the case,” the government gazette said.
However, the gazette noted that the death penalty could be temporarily reinstated under the Defense Act during states of emergency declared following section 113 of the Constitution.
Zimbabwe has not executed since 2005. (Xinhua)
Zimbabwe abolishes death penalty
