A prominent African official addresses the crowd at a sports-related event, emphasizing key moments in African sports history.
Zimbabwe has abolished the death penalty, with President Emmerson Mnangagwa signing the bill into law on December 31, 2024. Mnangagwa, who survived a death sentence during the colonial era due to his age, played a pivotal role in advancing the legislation. Parliament, led by the ruling ZANU-PF, endorsed the bill, which was introduced by opposition MP Edwin Mushoriwa. Proponents, including Mushoriwa and human rights groups, argue that the death penalty disproportionately affects the poor and is a relic of colonial rule. Parvais Jabbar of the Death Penalty Project, one of the bill’s supporters, highlighted a growing African movement against capital punishment, calling this step a foundation for broader human rights reforms. However, some people, like artisan miner Vincent Mazilankatha, oppose the decision, citing increased violence since discussions began. Zimbabwe joins 24 sub-Saharan African nations abolishing capital punishment for all crimes, with two others restricting its use to extraordinary cases.
SOURCE: VOA NEWS