Tanzania
Death penalty and prisoners' rights · Archive since 1999
Data card
- Legal status
- Abolitionist de facto
- Executions recorded in 2026
- 0
- Executions recorded in 2025
- 0
- First news item in the archive
- JANUARY 1, 1999 · Murder and treason are capital crimes
- News items in the archive
- 153
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
Tanzania is classified as Abolitionist de facto in the Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026. In 2026 the association recorded 0 executions in the country, against 0 the year before. The archive holds 153 news items on Tanzania, from 1999 to today.
Latest news
DECEMBER 28, 2020TanzaniaDEATH PENALTYTANZANIA: FOUR GET DEATH PENALTY FOR KILLING CHADEMA OFFICIAL
Four people charged in Tanzania with the murder of former Chadema Geita regional chairman Alphonce Mawazo were on 24 December 2020 given death sentence after the High Court found them guilty.
DECEMBER 10, 2020TanzaniaDEATH PENALTYTANZANIA: DEATH SENTENCES OF 256 CONVICTS COMMUTED
Tanzania’s president on 9 December 2020 commuted the sentences of 256 convicts on death row, marking a first for a country that has not executed anyone in nearly three decades.
SEPTEMBER 21, 2020TanzaniaDEATH PENALTYTANZANIA: HIGH COURT ORDERS HANGING OF FIVE PEOPLE FOR KILLING DR MVUNGI
The High Court in Dar es Salaam on 18 September 2020 ordered five people to be hanged to death for killing former prominent lawyer and politician, Dr Edmund Sengondo Mvungi.
SEPTEMBER 5, 2020TanzaniaDEATH PENALTYTANZANIA: WOMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING FOR SIX MURDERS
The High Court of Tanzania in Bukoba has convicted Esther Amani (36) from Kalenge Village in Biharamulo District of murder after she was found guilty of killing six family members and was sentenced to death by hanging, the Daily News reported on 21 August
- JANUARY 1, 2020TanzaniaDEATH PENALTY
Tanzania still retains the death penalty as one of punishments under...
Tanzania still retains the death penalty as one of punishments under...
- DECEMBER 2, 2019TanzaniaDEATH PENALTY
AFRICAN COURT DIRECTS TANZANIA TO DROP THE MANDATORY DEATH PENALTY
The African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights has ordered the government of Tanzania to remove from its statute books the mandatory death sentence imposed on persons convicted of murder, the Daily News reported on 29 November 2019.
OCTOBER 21, 2019TanzaniaDEATH PENALTYTANZANIA: APPEAL COURT UPHOLDS DEATH PENALTY OF TRIO
The Court of Appeal of Tanzania has confirmed the death sentence imposed on three residents of Ihumwa Village within Dodoma Municipality for killing in November 2011 their fellow villager, in the course of forcefully taking from him some 59 heads of cattl
JULY 19, 2019TanzaniaDEATH PENALTYTANZANIA: HIGH COURT RULES TO UPHOLD THE DEATH PENALTY
Tanzanian High Court on 18 July 2019 ruled to uphold or keep the death penalty, stating that there is not enough evidence to challenge the death penalty, which means that it will remain in place and operating.
JUNE 24, 2019TanzaniaDEATH PENALTYTANZANIA: 3 MUSLIMS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER
A court in Tanzania on 19 June 2019 sentenced three Muslims to be hanged for decapitating four Christians in 2015 during an outbreak of violence fuelled by religion, a legal source said.
MARCH 7, 2019TanzaniaDEATH PENALTYTANZANIA: TEACHER SENTENCED TO DEATH AFTER PUPIL DIED OF BEATING
A Tanzanian court sentenced a teacher to death on 6 March 2019 after a 13-year-old pupil died from a beating meted out by him in a case that sparked a national debate on corporal punishment in schools.
- JANUARY 1, 2019TanzaniaDEATH PENALTY
Tanzania still retains the death penalty as one of punishments under...
Tanzania still retains the death penalty as one of punishments under...
MAY 31, 2018TanzaniaDEATH PENALTYTANZANIA: FOUR NGARA RESIDENTS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER OF YOUTH 16
Four people, two of them women, from Ngara District have been sentenced to death after they were convicted of murder.
- JANUARY 1, 2018TanzaniaDEATH PENALTY
Tanzania still retains the death penalty as one of punishments under...
Tanzania still retains the death penalty as one of punishments under...
- DECEMBER 9, 2017TanzaniaDEATH PENALTY
TANZANIA: MAGUFULI GRANTS PRESIDENTIAL AMNESTY TO 61 DEATH ROW INMATES
President John Magufuli pardoned some 61 death row inmates.
NOVEMBER 2, 2017TanzaniaDEATH PENALTYTANZANIA: 34 PEOPLE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING ALBINOS
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in Tanzania announced the death sentence on 34 people accused of killing albinos in the country.
- SEPTEMBER 11, 2017TanzaniaDEATH PENALTY
I CANNOT 'EXECUTE' CONVICTED MURDERERS - TANZANIA'S PRESIDENT DECLARES
Tanzanian President John Magufuli has stated clearly that he cannot assent to an execution of the death penalty which is legal in the East African country.
MAY 8, 2017TanzaniaDEATH PENALTYTANZANIA: 74 YEAR OLD MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER MURDER
Mbeya Zone High Court has sentenced four men to death, including an old man,74, after they were convicted of murder.
APRIL 1, 2017TanzaniaDEATH PENALTYTANZANIA: BUNGE COMMITTEE TOUTS REVIEW OF DEATH PENALTY
The Parliamentary Committee on Constitution and Legal Affairs has advised the government to review death penalty laws to allow death row prisoners who have been in prison for a long time to have their sentences commuted to life imprisonment.
- JANUARY 1, 2017TanzaniaDEATH PENALTY
Tanzania still retains the death penalty as one of punishments under...
Tanzania still retains the death penalty as one of punishments under...
- OCTOBER 27, 2016TanzaniaDEATH PENALTY
the High Court in Bukoba Region sentenced to death two men, Lameck Bazil and Pankras Minago. They were charged with killing a PWA, Magdalena Andea in September 2008.
the High Court in Bukoba Region sentenced to death two men, Lameck Bazil and Pankras Minago. They were charged with killing a PWA, Magdalena Andea in September 2008.
- SEPTEMBER 16, 2016TanzaniaDEATH PENALTY
Christopher Bageni – former Superintendent of Police (Kinondoni) was sentenced to death.
Christopher Bageni – former Superintendent of Police (Kinondoni) was sentenced to death.
SEPTEMBER 12, 2016TanzaniaDEATH PENALTYTANZANIA: 21 CONVICTED, CONDEMNED TO DEATH OVER ALBINO KILLING
Over 21 people have been convicted of killing people with albinism in Tanzania and sentenced to death.
JULY 11, 2016TanzaniaDEATH PENALTYTANZANIA: 30 CONVICTED TO DEATH FOR KILLING ALBINOS, ELDERLY
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Dr Harrison Mwakyembe said that at least 30 people have been sentenced to death after they were found guilty of murdering elders and people with albinism.
- MAY 20, 2016TanzaniaDEATH PENALTY
with the publication on the Gazette of the United Republic of Tanzania No.21. Vol.97, entered into effect the Prevention of Terrorism Act (CAP 19) as amended through the Written Laws (Miscellaneous Amendment) Act, No. 2 of 2016.
with the publication on the Gazette of the United Republic of Tanzania No.21. Vol.97, entered into effect the Prevention of Terrorism Act (CAP 19) as amended through the Written Laws (Miscellaneous Amendment) Act, No. 2 of 2016.
- FEBRUARY 28, 2016TanzaniaDEATH PENALTY
TANZANIA: APPEAL COURT CONFIRMS TWO DEATH SENTENCES
Court of Appeal Justices Angela Kileo, Sauda Mjasiri and Bethuel Mmilla, confirmed death sentences
- JANUARY 1, 2016TanzaniaDEATH PENALTY
Tanzania still retains the death penalty as one of punishments under...
Tanzania still retains the death penalty as one of punishments under...
JULY 1, 2015TanzaniaDEATH PENALTYTANZANIA: FOUR SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING ALBINO TEENAGER
Four men, including a witchdoctor, were sentenced to death by Tanzania's High Court after being found
- MAY 3, 2015TanzaniaDEATH PENALTY
a Parliamentary Roundtable for consultation on abolition of death sentence was held in Dar es Salam and
a Parliamentary Roundtable for consultation on abolition of death sentence was held in Dar es Salam and
MARCH 18, 2015TanzaniaDEATH PENALTYTANZANIA: KARAGWE MAN TO HANG OVER FRIEND'S MURDER
A resident of Karagwe District in Kagera Region, Mulokozi Anatory, is to be hanged for killing his friend
- MARCH 5, 2015TanzaniaDEATH PENALTY
TANZANIA: ALBINO KILLERS SENTENCED TO DEATH
Four people have been sentenced to death in Tanzania after being found guilty of murdering an albino woman.