'Let's restore the death penalty,' Mugabe says
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe said on Wednesday he is in favour of resuming
executions after more than a decade in response to rising murder rates.
The last execution in the southern African nation was in 2005.
Although he said his cabinet is divided on the issue, Mugabe said he favours
lifting the moratorium on executions. "Let's restore the death penalty," he
said, speaking at the burial of a political ally.
He did not say when it could happen but said that "if you hear people are
being executed, know Mugabe's thinking has prevailed."
Zimbabwe's law allows for the death penalty for people convicted of murder
"in aggravating circumstances." Women and offenders younger than 17 and older
than 70 are exempt from executions.
Over 90 prisoners are on death row, according to official figures.
The hangman's job has been vacant in Zimbabwe for over a decade, but justice
ministry permanent secretary Virgina Mabhiza has said recent months have seen a
"flood" of applications in the economically struggling nation. Mabhiza said more
than 50 people had applied.
Zimbabwe imposed eight death sentences last year, according to Amnesty
International. The human rights group said 97 people were known to be facing
death sentences in the country as of the end of 2016.
No comments
Your comments and Encouragement are welcome