The Mass Public Opinion Institute’s study revealed lack of consensus among Zimbabweans on the death penalty issue. MPOI’s recent research indicated that 61% of Zimbabweans are against the penalty. On the other extreme end, 41 % think it must be “definitely” kept whilst 20% feel it should “probably” be kept.
The research also showed that globally, states are significantly drifting towards proscribing capital punishment. More than two thirds of the world has already abolished the death penalty law.
Commenting on the issue, Marufu Mandevere a rights lawyer said:
The death sentence has generally been an archaic form of sentence which so many civilised societies have abandoned.
In as much as it is archaic and uncivilised it has never been known to the Africans’ culture…which has been based on compensation forgiveness, love and not retribution.
The arguments in favour of death penalty have been weak and are not ascertainable.
Whilst President Mnangagwa has vehemently castigated capital punishment, Constantino Chiwenga, his vice, is of the diverging view. It is believed that Mnangagwa narrowly escaped the hanging during the liberation struggle due to his tender age.
Zimbabwe has not carried out any execution in the past decade. This is mainly because the country has had no hangman for 12 years now. The fate of more than 100 prisoners on the death row remains unclear as opinions have been varying on the case.
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