Capital punishment was a legal penalty in Zambia until 2022. Despite its former legality, the country had not carried out any execution since 1997. Zambia was considered "Abolitionist in Practice".[1]
There were at least 9 new death sentences in Zambia in 2021. 257 people were on death row at the end of 2021.[2]
On 25 May 2022, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema announced that the death penalty would soon be abolished in Zambia.[3][4]
On 23 December 2022, capital punishment was officially abolished, though it remains in some military statutes.[5]
References
- ^ "Abolitionist and retentionist countries (as of July 2018)". Amnesty International. 23 October 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
- ^ "Death sentences and executions 2021". Amnesty International. 24 May 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
- ^ "Zambia, Central African Republic Move to Abolish Death Penalty". Death Penalty Information Center. 31 May 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
- ^ "Rights office welcomes Zambia's pledge to abolish the death penalty". United Nations. 27 May 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
- ^ "Zambia abolishes the death penalty". The Bangkok Post. 23 December 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.