By : Lloyd Mahachi
Amnesty International marks World Day Against the Death Penalty with a call to action, urging Gambia, Kenya, and Zimbabwe to abolish the death penalty once and for all. These three sub-Saharan African countries are poised to join the growing list of nations that have rejected this cruel punishment.
On October 10, World Day Against the Death Penalty, Amnesty International highlighted the significant progress made by Gambia, Kenya, and Zimbabwe towards abolition. These countries have not carried out executions in over a decade and have commuted multiple death sentences in the same period. Kenya’s last known execution was recorded in 1987, while Zimbabwe’s was in 2005, and Gambia’s in 2012.
Despite a concerning surge in recorded executions and death sentences in sub-Saharan Africa in 2023, Amnesty International remains hopeful. Twenty-four countries in the region have abolished the death penalty for all crimes, and two more have abolished it for ordinary crimes only. Globally, 113 countries have rejected this punishment.
However, the number of executions worldwide increased by 31% in 2023, with 1,153 recorded executions. Iran and Saudi Arabia accounted for most of these executions. Amnesty International emphasizes that the death penalty violates the right to life and has no unique deterrent effect.
Gambia, Kenya, and Zimbabwe are leading the way towards abolition. Gambia has established an official moratorium on executions and become a party to an international treaty aiming at abolition. Kenya has four bills pending in Parliament to abolish the death penalty, with 606 commutations of death sentences granted in 2023. Zimbabwe’s Death Penalty Abolition Bill was published in the official gazette in December 2023 and is pending before parliament.
Amnesty International’s legal adviser on the death penalty, Oluwatosin Popoola, noted, “Countries that still retain the death penalty are an isolated minority as the world continues to decidedly move away from this cruel punishment.” The organization urges all countries to join the global trend towards abolition and reject this inhumane punishment.
The progress made by Gambia, Kenya, and Zimbabwe serves as a beacon of hope for the region and the world. As Amnesty International continues to advocate for the abolition of the death penalty, these countries have the opportunity to make history and pave the way for a more just and humane world.
Editor : Josephine Mahachi
