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
- FEBRUARY 23, 2007ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
ZAMBIA. DEATH PENALTY WILL STAY ON STATUTE BOOKS - MINISTER
Justice Minister George Kunda told the Zambian Parliament that the death penalty will stay on the statute
- JANUARY 1, 2007ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
The Zambia Constitution of 1991, allows the death penalty in Part III
The Zambia Constitution of 1991, allows the death penalty in Part III
- DECEMBER 21, 2006ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
ZAMBIA. EIGHT ROBBERS SENTENCED TO DEATH
eight men were sentenced to death by hanging by the Ndola high court, Zambia, for aggravated robbery. Sentencing the eight, High court judge Florence Lengalengain dismissed their mitigation of being first offenders.
- NOVEMBER 13, 2006ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
ZAMBIA COURT REJECTS PLEA TO SCRAP DEATH SENTENCES
Zambia's Supreme Court has rejected a petition by two death-row inmates who sought the abolition of capital punishment on the grounds that it went against "Christian values".
- MAY 11, 2006ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
ZAMBIA. TWO TO HANG FOR MURDER
the Kitwe High Court, Zambia, sentenced to death Evans Mumba, 42, and Ronald Mwaba, 24, after convicting them of murder.
- MAY 2, 2006ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
ZAMBIA. SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS FOUR DEATH SENTENCES, COMMUTES A FIFTH
the Zambian Supreme Court upheld four death sentences passed by the High Court, including that of a police officer who killed three High School teachers in September 2001.
- JANUARY 1, 2006ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
The Zambia Constitution of 1991, allows the death penalty in Part III
The Zambia Constitution of 1991, allows the death penalty in Part III
- NOVEMBER 29, 2005ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
ZAMBIA. PRESIDENT COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCES OF 12 CONVICTS
Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa commuted death sentences handed down on 12 criminals convicted for violent crimes including murder, commissioner of prisons Jethro Mumbuwa announced.
- NOVEMBER 1, 2005ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
the Supreme Court of Zambia commuted the death sentences handed down to Roderick Tembo...
the Supreme Court of Zambia commuted the death sentences handed down to Roderick Tembo, a police officer, and Mutemwa Mutoloka, an accomplice, for aggravated robbery and instead sentenced them to 20 years imprisonment with hard labour.
- NOVEMBER 1, 2005ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
ZAMBIA. SUPREME COURT IMPOSES DEATH SENTENCE ON POLICE OFFICER
Patson Mwale, a police officer who killed a suspect in Lusaka, Zambia, was condemned to death by the Supreme Court following his appeal against the Lusaka High Court verdict in which he was sentenced to a 20-year jail term.
- OCTOBER 29, 2005ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
YEMEN. COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE AGAINST JARALLAH'S ASSASSIN
Yemen’s Supreme Court upheld the death sentence handed down to Ali Ahmad Jarallah
- AUGUST 10, 2005ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
ZAMBIA. MAN TO HANG FOR ROBBERY
the Ndola High Court, Zambia, sentenced Emmanuel Mulenga. a 31-year-old man. to death by hanging for aggravated robbery. Passing sentence, Judge Muyinda Wanki said the offence was especially serious due to the use of a firearm.
- FEBRUARY 11, 2005ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
a Lusaka High Court has sentenced a Zambia National Service (ZNS) official
a Lusaka High Court has sentenced a Zambia National Service (ZNS) official
- JANUARY 1, 2005ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
The Zambia Constitution of 1991, allows the death penalty in Part III on the Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedom of the Individual.
The Zambia Constitution of 1991, allows the death penalty in Part III on the Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedom of the Individual.
- DECEMBER 7, 2004ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
the Meme High Court, Zambia, sentenced Johnson Ayuk to death
the Meme High Court, Zambia, sentenced Johnson Ayuk to death
- NOVEMBER 5, 2004ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
The Zambian Supreme Court acquitted two men who had...
The Zambian Supreme Court acquitted two men who had been sentenced to death
- NOVEMBER 5, 2004ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
The Zambian Supreme Court upheld the decision of the...
The Zambian Supreme Court upheld the decision of the High Court to sentence Felix Chima, a security guard, to death
- OCTOBER 22, 2004ItalyDEATH PENALTY
ZAMBIA. SUCCESSFUL JOINT MISSION BY ITALIAN SENATE AND HOC
October 22, 2004: a joint delegation of members of the Italian Senate’s and HOC officials has concluded a four-day visit to Zambia. The mission aimed to discuss and support moves towards death penalty abolition.
- OCTOBER 21, 2004ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
A four-day visit to Zambia by a delegation from the...
A four-day visit to Zambia by a delegation from the Italian Senate's Human Rights Commission and HOC officials marked the point of no return in the process towards abolition in the country judging from political commitments made and the huge public exposu
- OCTOBER 4, 2004ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
Twelve bishops from the Roman Catholic Church, the...
Twelve bishops from the Roman Catholic Church, the biggest Christian denomination in Zambia, called on Lusaka to scrap the death penalty from its new constitution
- SEPTEMBER 7, 2004ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
Salad Killian Mwiika, a 52-year-old farmer from Monze,...
Salad Killian Mwiika, a 52-year-old farmer from Monze, Zambia, walked to freedom after the Supreme Court quashed the death sentence handed to him by the Livingstone High Court after finding him guilty of three counts of murder
- JULY 1, 2004ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
Zambia released a second group of soldiers who were...
Zambia released a second group of soldiers who were serving jail sentences in connection with an attempted coup in 1997 against former president Frederick Chiluba, the state-run Zambia Daily Mail reported
- JUNE 29, 2004ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
Zambia has released 14 coup-plotters from prison after...
Zambia has released 14 coup-plotters from prison after President Levy Mwanawasa commuted their death sentences to various prison terms earlier this year, a statement said
- MAY 11, 2004ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
Zambian lawyer Kelvin Hang'andu was seeking to abolish...
Zambian lawyer Kelvin Hang'andu was seeking to abolish the death penalty in Zambia
- MAY 7, 2004ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa commuted the death...
Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa commuted the death sentences of 15 prisoners who were convicted for murder and aggravated robbery
- APRIL 16, 2004ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
The Kitwe High court, Zambia, sentenced Gerthin Musonda,...
The Kitwe High court, Zambia, sentenced Gerthin Musonda, 28, John Mwenya, 21, Brian Lumamba, 28 and Mabvuto Phiri after convicting them of murdering taxi driver Obby Chama on January 12, 2003
- APRIL 11, 2004ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
The Zambia Constitution of 1991, allows the death penalty in Part III on the Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedom of the Individual.
The Zambia Constitution of 1991, allows the death penalty in Part III on the Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedom of the Individual.
- FEBRUARY 29, 2004ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
Catholic Archbishop of Lusaka Medardo Mazombwe and...
Catholic Archbishop of Lusaka Medardo Mazombwe and Zambia Episcope Conference (ZEC) general secretary Fr
- FEBRUARY 27, 2004ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa quashed the death...
Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa quashed the death sentences imposed on 44 soldiers convicted of treason in 1999
- JANUARY 22, 2004ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
Zambia army officers and men at Gondar barracks near...
Zambia army officers and men at Gondar barracks near Chipata, a town 569km east of Lusaka, submitted to the Constitutional Review Commission to abolish the death penalty in the laws of Zambia and replace it with life imprisonment