Zambia
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 · In January, ironically, the voice leading the call...
- News items in the archive
- 235
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
Zambia 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 235 news items on Zambia, from 1999 to today.
Latest news
MARCH 22, 2019ZambiaDEATH PENALTYZAMBIA: 14 WOMEN ON DEATH ROW
Fourteen women and an 18-year-old man are among 315 inmates on death row at Mukobeko Maximum Security Correctional Facility in Kabwe, Ministry of Home Affairs Permanent Secretary Chileshe Mulenga has said.
FEBRUARY 7, 2019ZambiaDEATH PENALTYZAMBIA: GUARD TO HANG FOR MURDER
A security guard has been condemned to death by hanging for murdering a man he found loitering outside his work place, the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) offices in Luanshya, the Daily Mail reported on 27 January 2019.
- JANUARY 1, 2019ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
The Zambian penal code, section 43, foresees that the death penalty...
The Zambian penal code, section 43, foresees that the death penalty...
NOVEMBER 16, 2018ZambiaDEATH PENALTYZAMBIA: 27-YEAR-OLD SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER OF GIRLFRIEND
A 27 year old man of Chingola Township on the Copperbelt has been sentenced to death by hanging for the murder of his girlfriend, zambiareports reported on 12 November 2018.
- OCTOBER 24, 2018ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
ZAMBIA: 5 NYIMBA MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER
Five men from the Nyimba district were sentenced to death in Zambia in two separate cases, zambiareports.com reported on October 19, 2018.
- MAY 24, 2018ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
ZAMBIA: PRESIDENT PARDONS 464 PRISONERS AS PART OF AFRICA FREEDOM DAY COMMEMORATION
Zambian President Edgar Lungu pardoned 464 prisoners as part of the commemoration of this year's Africa Freedom Day which falls on May 25.
- APRIL 18, 2018ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
ZAMBIA: LUSAKA WIFE TO HANG FOR KILLING HUSBAND
A ninteen-year-old Lusaka wife has been sentenced to death for stabbing her husband to death using a kitchen knife.
- MARCH 29, 2018ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
ZAMBIA: CHIEF KILLERS TO HANG
The Ndola High Court sentenced five men and two women to death by hanging for murdering Senior Chief Tafuna and his subject in Mpulungu following a succession dispute.
FEBRUARY 28, 2018ZambiaDEATH PENALTYZAMBIA: KEITH MUKATA SENTENCED TO DEATH
The Lusaka High Court has sentenced Chilanga UPND Member of Parliament Keith Mukata to death by hanging after finding him guilty of murder.
- JANUARY 1, 2018ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
The Zambian penal code, section 43, foresees that the death penalty...
The Zambian penal code, section 43, foresees that the death penalty...
- NOVEMBER 29, 2017ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
Zambian gov't to consult citizens on abolishing death penalty
29 November 2017: the Minister of Justice Given Lubinda said his ministry's agenda for next year will also include sensitizing citizens on the need to abolish the death penalty as well as refinement of the country's constitution.
- APRIL 27, 2017ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
ZAMBIA HAS 168 MEN AND 2 WOMEN ON DEATH ROW
The Zambia Correctional Services says it has 170 inmates on death row.
- JANUARY 1, 2017ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
The Zambian penal code, section 43, foresees that the death penalty...
The Zambian penal code, section 43, foresees that the death penalty...
DECEMBER 23, 2016ZambiaDEATH PENALTYZAMBIA: MPOMBO’S SON SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER
The Ndola High Court has found former minister of Defence George Mpombo’s 17-year-old son guilty of shooting dead his pregnant girlfriend and beheading her.
- OCTOBER 17, 2016ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
ZAMBIA: TWO YOUTHS TO HANG FOR MURDER AND AGGRAVATED ROBBERY
Two youths have been sentenced to deaths by hanging by
MARCH 19, 2016ZambiaDEATH PENALTYZAMBIA: ROBBER SENTENCED TO DEATH
A 27-year-old robber of Solwezi has been sentenced to death by the Kitwe High Court.
- MARCH 2, 2016ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
ZAMBIA: KILLER MUST HANG, RULES SUPREME COURT
The Supreme Court upheld a High Court death sentence slapped on a man of Chilanga who burnt to death
- FEBRUARY 5, 2016ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
ZAMBIA: FIVE PF CADRES SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING FOR KILLING UPND COUNTERPART
Lusaka High Court judge Gertrude Chawatama has sentenced to death five Patriotic Front (PF) cadres
- JANUARY 21, 2016ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
ZAMBIA: CCZ AGAINST DEATH PENALTY
the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) executive director Rev Susan Matale said before the
JANUARY 21, 2016ZambiaDEATH PENALTYZAMBIA: POLICE CHIEF SAYS DEATH PENALTY PROVISIONS APPROPRIATE
Kakoma Kanganja Police chief said death penalty provisions were appropriate and should be applied as
- JANUARY 19, 2016ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
ZAMBIA: SCRAP DEATH SENTENCE
A lecturer in the School of Law at the University of Zambia, Landilani Banda, says death sentence is “state-
- JANUARY 14, 2016ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
ZAMBIA SHOULD ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY
Florence Chibwesha, Director of the Human Rights Commission of Zambia told the Committee on Legal
- JANUARY 13, 2016ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
ZAMBIA: OUTLAW DEATH PENALTY, URGES PRISON CHIEF
the Zambia Prisons Services submitted before the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs that the law on
- JANUARY 1, 2016ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
The Zambian penal code, section 43, foresees that the death penalty...
The Zambian penal code, section 43, foresees that the death penalty...
- JULY 16, 2015ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
ZAMBIA: PRESIDENT EDGAR LUNGU GIVES DEATH ROW INMATES LIFE SENTENCES
Zambia's President Edgar Lungu reduced the sentence of 332 prisoners awaiting death by hanging to life imprisonment to ease maximum security prison congestion.
- JULY 16, 2015ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
ZAMBIA: KILLER FATHER TO HANG
The Lusaka High Court sentenced a man of Chibombo district to death for killing his two children using a pesticide on grounds that he was disturbed by the dissolution of his marriage.
- JULY 2, 2015ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
ZAMBIA: MUMBWA POLYGAMIST SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING SECOND WIFE
In Zambia, the Kabwe High Court sentenced to death a 34-year-old polygamist of Mumbwa who strangled
- MAY 25, 2015ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
President Edgar Lungu pardoned and released 177 prisoners in commemoration of the Africa Freedom
President Edgar Lungu pardoned and released 177 prisoners in commemoration of the Africa Freedom
- JANUARY 1, 2015ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
The Zambian penal code, section 43, foresees that the death penalty...
The Zambian penal code, section 43, foresees that the death penalty...
NOVEMBER 28, 2014ZambiaDEATH PENALTYZAMBIA: THREE SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING
The Mansa High court has sentenced three people to death by hanging for murder contrary to Section 200