Introduction
Death penalty is defined as the execution of a person as punishment for a crime. In Zimbabwe the death penalty is a topic that invokes a lot of mixed feelings in different individuals. With the world slowly but surely moving away from the death penalty to protect the right to life, Zimbabwe has caught up.
How do the people feel about the death penalty?
The topic remains a conflicted one amongst citizens. With other people agreeing that this punishment is inhumane and other people believing that having it deters crime and is befitting to the people who committed deep atrocities. The topic remains a very controversial one as people overtime have shown to have mixed feelings towards this type of punishment for particular crimes. Comments by ordinary people have shown that it is a topic welcomed by some and despised by others hence the controversy.
Zimbabwe’s current position on the death penalty
As of February 2024, Zimbabwe’s cabinet has approved a bill that if passed by parliament, will abolish the death penalty. This marks a great stride towards the abolishment of this purportedly inhumane punishment. To date about 170 countries have abolished or introduced a moratorium (a temporary suspension of an activity or law) on the death penalty either in law or in practice. Zimbabwe’s last execution was in the year 2005 in July, which makes Zimbabwe a country that is abolitionist in practice, meaning it has been under a long-term unofficial moratorium on executions, Zimbabwe has not executed for close to 9 years now and has 63 prisoners on death row.
Abolishment of the death penalty as a tool to heal communities
Perhaps that is what the world needs, to heal as opposed to make even. To show better treatment even to those who we think do not deserve it. As the idiom goes “an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind” which opposes retaliation and revenge shows us in this case that we should not solve violence with violence. This brings a deeper perspective on the functions of the law and of human rights in general, to restore order, bring standards and preserve every individual’s humanity. One can view the law maker’s abolishment of capital punishment as a society trying to heal as opposed to carrying out an eye for an eye strategy.
The law taking prevalence on the death penalty and human rights protection
One can view this abolishment as a respect by nations for the international and universal human rights. That by abolishing it they then respect the right to life of those found on the wrong side of the law. Mixed emotions and questions then arise. Take for example one who kills another human being with aggravating circumstances, one can ponder: does such a person who felt the need to end another person’s life deserve to have their right to life respected and their right not to be subjected to inhumane and degrading treatment? If the answer is yes one can further state that by doing so we are placing the right to life of the offender above the right to life of the deceased? Food for thought.
All being said, we are all governed by laws and principles and suffice to say those laws were put in place to be respected no matter what the circumstances. There is a common saying that goes “the law is the law”, which is used to emphasize that we must adhere to rules and regulations, regardless of our feelings or, devoid of what we think of it. The quest to abolish the death penalty carries with it a significant respect for the principles of the law in general in relation to protection of human rights.
Conclusion
In respect of international human rights standards and the rights of individuals we applaud the nation of Zimbabwe therefore for taking a significant step towards the abolishment of the death penalty. This despite what other individuals feel about the subject is an indication of a nation that seeks to recognise and respect human rights and Zimbabwe is well on its way to achieving that.
