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
- SEPTEMBER 19, 2001ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
One of the two senior policemen sentenced to death...
One of the two senior policemen sentenced to death for murdering a truck driver after hijacking a truckload of copper has appealed to Supreme Court against both conviction and sentence
- JULY 18, 2001ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
Amnesty International (AI)demanded that the Zambian...
Amnesty International (AI)demanded that the Zambian government commute the death sentences given to the 59 soldiers convicted for the 1997 coup attempt
- JUNE 22, 2001ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
Amnesty International urged the Zambian government...
Amnesty International urged the Zambian government to consider abolishing the death penalty, recalling that the country is signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human rights and the African Charter of Human and Peoples Rights
- APRIL 27, 2001ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
Reacting to press reports that death row prisoners...
Reacting to press reports that death row prisoners choked Kabwe's Mukobeko Maximum Prison, Fr
- APRIL 25, 2001ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
Zambia abstained from the resolution on the death penalty...
Zambia abstained from the resolution on the death penalty approved by the UN Commission on Human Rights on April 25 , 2001 (2001/68)
- JANUARY 1, 2001ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
The Zambian Constitution of 1996, Article 12, comma...
The Zambian Constitution of 1996, Article 12, comma 1, provides for the death penalty
- NOVEMBER 16, 2000ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
The Zambia Independent Monitoring Team (ZIMT) urged...
The Zambia Independent Monitoring Team (ZIMT) urged the government to abolish the death penalty instead of waiting until a national consensus was reached on capital punishment
- SEPTEMBER 1, 2000ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
Legal Affairs Minister Vincent Malambo said that Zambia...
Legal Affairs Minister Vincent Malambo said that Zambia would not abolish the death penalty until it had achieved full national consensus on the issue
- SEPTEMBER 1, 2000ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
Legal Affairs Minister Vincent Malambo said that Zambia...
Legal Affairs Minister Vincent Malambo said that Zambia would not abolish the death penalty until it had achieved full national consensus on the issue
- SEPTEMBER 1, 2000ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
Legal Affairs Minister Vincent Malambo said that Zambia...
Legal Affairs Minister Vincent Malambo said that Zambia would not abolish the death penalty until it had achieved full national consensus on the issue
- JULY 21, 2000ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
The high court sentenced to death two men for shooting...
The high court sentenced to death two men for shooting Teddy Mulonga, the former president of the Football Association of Zambia, in 1998
- JUNE 28, 2000ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
The Supreme Court was to consider an application to...
The Supreme Court was to consider an application to abolish the death penalty
- MAY 3, 2000ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
Judge Cosmas Kabamba of the Ndola High Court sentenced...
Judge Cosmas Kabamba of the Ndola High Court sentenced to hang Mike Simbaya, an unemployed Kankoyo who allegedly brutally murdered his 12-year-old niece, Mercy Museya, between October 19 and 20 1997
- APRIL 26, 2000ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
Zambia abstained from the resolution on the death penalty...
Zambia abstained from the resolution on the death penalty approved by the UN Commission on Human Rights on April 26 (no
- MARCH 22, 2000ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
The High Court in Lusaka sentenced to death a man found...
The High Court in Lusaka sentenced to death a man found guilty of the 1993 murder of Major-General Gerald Nyirenda, former commandant of the Zambia National Service
- FEBRUARY 15, 2000ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
Two villagers from Chavuma were sentenced to death...
Two villagers from Chavuma were sentenced to death for murder
- JANUARY 1, 2000ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
Zambian law provides for the death penalty for those...
Zambian law provides for the death penalty for those convicted of murder, treason and aggravated robbery
- JANUARY 1, 2000ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
In January 1997, 8 prisoners were sent to the gallows...
In January 1997, 8 prisoners were sent to the gallows at Mukobeko Prison
- SEPTEMBER 17, 1999ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
On September 17, Captain Stephen Lungu alias Captain...
On September 17, Captain Stephen Lungu alias Captain Solo was sentenced to death together with 58 soldiers for plotting and executing the October 28, 1997 coup against President Frederick Chiluba's Government
- SEPTEMBER 14, 1999ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
On September 14, Human Rights Commission (HRC) Chairperson...
On September 14, Human Rights Commission (HRC) Chairperson Judge Lombe Chibesakunda said the trend internationally was to move towards the development of a principle of law that prohibits the imposition of capital punishment no matter what crime is involv
- SEPTEMBER 8, 1999ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
On September 8, Father Patrick Simutowe, a Catholic...
On September 8, Father Patrick Simutowe, a Catholic priest in Mpika, said that the Prisons Service was not reforming inmates but destroying them
- JULY 28, 1999ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
On July 28, Zambia United Christian Action director...
On July 28, Zambia United Christian Action director Reverend John Jere said to deny the death penalty was to insist on life for evil, as murderers would be given the right to kill without getting an equal measure of punishment
- FEBRUARY 1, 1999ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
In February, the CCJP called on the Government to reduce...
In February, the CCJP called on the Government to reduce the death penalty to life imprisonment in conformity with the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation
- JANUARY 1, 1999ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
In January, ironically, the voice leading the call...
In January, ironically, the voice leading the call for the abolition of capital punishment was that of former President Kenneth Kaunda, who signed scores of death warrants during his 28-year reign
- JANUARY 1, 1999ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
Zambian law provides for the death penalty for those...
Zambian law provides for the death penalty for those convicted of murder, treason and aggravated robbery