Gender and Community Correspondent
HARARE – A new Afrobarometer survey has revealed that more than half of Zimbabweans believe the death penalty is a fair punishment for those who commit heinous crimes, despite the government’s recent progressive move to abolish capital punishment.
The survey was conducted shortly before Zimbabwe officially scrapped the death penalty on December 31, 2024, a decision that had received mixed public reactions in a nation grappling with balancing non-violent values and the desire for severe punishment for ruthless crimes.
According to the report’s premise:
“Afrobarometer surveyed Zimbabweans to find out what they think about the death penalty as part of a broader exploration of their perceptions of the country’s judicial system.”
The findings showed that while a significant minority believe no crime justifies the death penalty, the majority of respondents supported capital punishment for the most serious offenses.
Zimbabwe became only the fifth African country to abolish the death sentence, a move made easier by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s personal experience of being on death row in the 1980s. He was arrested and charged with “terrorism” by the colonial regime for his role in the independence struggle.
The Presidential decision to abolish capital punishment saved 59 inmates on death row since the early 2000s, when Zimbabwe last carried out an execution.
High Court judges have been tasked with re-sentencing these criminals, considering their crimes, duration on death row, and personal circumstances.
The survey results highlight the complex public sentiment surrounding justice and punishment in Zimbabwe, revealing a significant gap between governmental policy and popular opinion on this fundamental issue.
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