Outlaw death penalty — Amnesty

International human rights body Amnesty International (AI) Zimbabwe has challenged leaders of Zimbabwe’s three main political parties to outlaw the death penalty in the new constitution, saying capital punishment violated the right to life.

In an open letter to President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Welshman Ncube, AI Zimbabwe executive director Cousin Zilala said the death penalty should not be included in the new governance charter currently being crafted.

“Amnesty International is urging party leaders in the inclusive government to provide leadership in shaping a new constitution that seeks to remove Zimbabwe from the ever-diminishing number of countries left in the world that apply the death penalty for all offences,” said Zilala.

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