Newsday
By Feluna Nleya
11 October 2010
Amnesty International Zimbabwe (AI) will this week petition the legal secretaries from the three political parties in the inclusive government to help abolish the death sentence in Zimbabwe.
AI wrote to Zanu PF secretary for legal affairs Emmerson Mnangagwa and the two Secretaries for legal Affairs from the MDC parties, Innocent Gonese (MDC T) and David Coltart (MDC) so that they could persuade their supporters to advocate for the abolishing of the death penalty in the country’s statutes.
“The creation of a new constitution presents a golden opportunity for Zimbabwe to join the worldwide movement of countries that have abolished the death penalty.
That movement is gathering pace in Africa.
Of the 52 states in the African Union (AU), 49 did not carry out any executions during 2008 and 2009,†reads part of the letters to the three.
“The African Commission on Human and People’s Rights has repeatedly called on AU member states to abolish the death penalty.
The United Nations General Assembly has also adopted resolutions calling for a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty,†the letter reads.
“I am urging you in your capacity as legal secretary to play a leading role to persuade your party and the Zimbabwean people to abolish the death penalty in Zimbabwe.â€
AI executive director Cousin Zilala said his organisation would hand over the petitions to the relevant authorities soon.
“We are trying to make appointments so that we take our petition to them soon and that should be done by end of next week,†Zilala said.
AI Zimbabwe has also made its submission to the Constitutional Parliamentary committee calling for an end to the executions.
“The death penalty is a violation of the right to life and the right not to be subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment;rights which are recognised in the universal declaration of human rights and other international human rights, instruments to which Zimbabwe is a state party,†reads part of the letter.
They also said the adoption of a new constitution would provide a unique opportunity for Zimbabwe to show its commitment to the protection of internationally recognised human rights by abolishing the death penalty.
“In line with the commitment expressed in the Global Political Agreement to act in a manner that demonstrates respect for the democratic values of justice, fairness, openness, tolerance, equality, respect of all persons and human rights, Amnesty International Zimbabwe is urging the constitutional parliamentary committee to demonstrate Zimbabwe’s commitment to human rights by expunging the death penalty from Zimbabwe’s constitution,†the statement reads.