LUSAKA-Republic of Zambia on Friday abolished the death penalty and the offence of criminal defamation.
(Photo by Hakainde Hichilema-Twitter).
“Today we assented to Penal Code (Amendment) Bill number 25 of 2022, abolishing the death penalty in Zambia and the offence of Criminal Defamation of the President. Promised to amend laws that inhibit democracy, human rights, good governance and basic freedoms. #PromisesDelivered,” President Hakainde Hichilema tweeted.
Zambia, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central, Southern and East Africa,although it is typically referred to as being in Southern Africa at its most central point.
Its neighbours are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the northeast, Malawi to the east, Mozambique to the southeast, Zimbabwe and Botswana to the south, Namibia to the southwest, and Angola to the west.
The capital city of Zambia is Lusaka, located in the south-central part of Zambia. The nation's population of around 19.5 million is concentrated mainly around Lusaka in the south and the Copperbelt Province to the north, the core economic hubs of the country.
Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, said the abolishment is a good and progressive move that shows the country’s commitment to protecting the right to life.
With this, Zambia becomes the 25th country in sub-Saharan Africa to abolish the death penalty for all crimes.
Zambia, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central, Southern and East Africa,although it is typically referred to as being in Southern Africa at its most central point.
Its neighbours are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the northeast, Malawi to the east, Mozambique to the southeast, Zimbabwe and Botswana to the south, Namibia to the southwest, and Angola to the west.
The capital city of Zambia is Lusaka, located in the south-central part of Zambia. The nation's population of around 19.5 million is concentrated mainly around Lusaka in the south and the Copperbelt Province to the north, the core economic hubs of the country.
Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, said the abolishment is a good and progressive move that shows the country’s commitment to protecting the right to life.
With this, Zambia becomes the 25th country in sub-Saharan Africa to abolish the death penalty for all crimes.
“We also commend President Hichilema for quashing the offence of criminal defamation of the president, used until recently to muzzle free speech and unjustifiably limit freedom of expression in the country,” he said
With this, Zambia becomes the 25th country in sub-Saharan Africa to abolish the death penalty for all crimes.
“Zambia’s decision to ban the death penalty should serve as an example to countries in the region that still use the death penalty and compel them to take immediate steps to end this cruel, inhuman and degrading form of punishment and protect the right to life,” Mr Chagutah added.
Amnesty International also encouraged Zambia to promptly accede to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty.
Amnesty International in its latest report on the use of the death penalty, documented that executions in sub-Saharan Africa more than doubled from 16 in 2020 to 33 in 2021.
With this, Zambia becomes the 25th country in sub-Saharan Africa to abolish the death penalty for all crimes.
“Zambia’s decision to ban the death penalty should serve as an example to countries in the region that still use the death penalty and compel them to take immediate steps to end this cruel, inhuman and degrading form of punishment and protect the right to life,” Mr Chagutah added.
Amnesty International also encouraged Zambia to promptly accede to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty.
Amnesty International in its latest report on the use of the death penalty, documented that executions in sub-Saharan Africa more than doubled from 16 in 2020 to 33 in 2021.
About Hakainde
Hakainde Hichilema born June 4th, 1962, is a Zambian businessman, farmer, and politician who is the seventh and current president of Zambia since 24 August 2021.
After having contested five previous elections in 2006, 2008, 2011, 2015 and 2016, he won the 2021 presidential election with over 59% of the vote.