- Zimbabwe recently abolished the death penalty, becoming the latest African nation to end capital punishment
- Emmerson Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe's President signed the landmark Bill on New Year’s eve
- TheRadar compiled 27 other African countries that have also abolished the death penalty from their legal system
Zimbabwe's President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, recently signed into law a bill abolishing the death penalty, effective immediately. The landmark decision was finalised on Tuesday, December 31, 2024.
This made Zimbabwe the latest African nation to take steps toward ending capital punishment, a trend that has seen significant growth in recent years across the continent.
Zimbabwe abolishes death penalty
The first country in the world to abolish the death penalty for all crimes was Venezuela in 1863, during the presidency of Juan Crisóstomo Falcón.
According to Amnesty International, nearly 1,200 executions were recorded globally in 2023, a sharp increase from the previous year, with China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, and the United States listed as the top five executioners.
President Mnangagwa has long opposed the death penalty, citing his personal experience during Zimbabwe’s liberation war in the 1960s, when he was sentenced to death, a punishment later commuted to a 10-year prison term.
Zimbabwe last carried out an execution by hanging in 2005, though its courts continued to issue death sentences for serious crimes such as murder.
In addition to Zimbabwe’s recent action, Ghana has also made moves toward abolishing the death penalty, though the change has not yet been formalised into law.
27 African nations that have abolished death penalty
TheRadar compiled 27 African nations that have abolished the death penalty in their legal systems, according to the Death Penalty Information Center:
Governor Adeleke seeks pardon for Segun Olowookere, sentenced to death for stealing fowl
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Segun Olowookere was arrested at 17 for allegedly stealing a chicken and eggs, leading to a decade-long legal battle.
Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke, intervened in the case, ordering an investigation and considering a pardon for Segun.