Zimbabwe
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, rape, aggravated robbery, illegal possession...
- News items in the archive
- 203
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
Zimbabwe 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 203 news items on Zimbabwe, from 1999 to today.
Latest news
OCTOBER 10, 2018ZimbabweDEATH PENALTYZIMBABWE: TWO TO HANG FOR KILLING SOLDIER
Two murderers have been sentenced to death after being convicted of stabbing to death a Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) member, newsdzezimbabwe reported on 9 October 2018.
- JUNE 25, 2018ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
ZIMBABWEANS WANT DEATH PENALTY TO GO
According to a survey conducted by international criminologist, Dr Mai Sato, in collaboration with the Mass Public Opinion Institute, most Zimbabweans would be happy to see the abolition of capital punishment.
- JUNE 20, 2018ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
ZIMBABWE: 3 ARMED ROBBERS GET 4 DEATH SENTENCES EACH
Three armed robbers who targeted white commercial farmers in Mashonaland Central province, killing four of them, were sentenced to four death sentences each
- MARCH 26, 2018ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
ZIMBABWE: SIXTEEN ESCAPE HANGMAN’S NOOSE
At least 16 inmates sentenced to death have escaped the hangman’s noose.
MARCH 21, 2018ZimbabweDEATH PENALTYZIMBABWE: MNANGAGWA REVERSES SENTENCE FOR PRISONERS SENTENCED TO DEATH
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has commuted prison sentence to life for inmates who have stayed on the death row for over 10 years.
- JANUARY 1, 2018ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
After independence from Britain in 1980, there were nine offences which warranted
After independence from Britain in 1980, there were nine offences which warranted
- NOVEMBER 9, 2017ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
ZIMBABWE: DEATH SENTENCE FOR MAN WHO BEHEADED WIFE
A Binga man who chopped off his wife’s head and hid it in a cardboard box following domestic dispute, was sentenced to death.
NOVEMBER 1, 2017ZimbabweDEATH PENALTYZIMBABWE: MUGABE SAYS HE FAVORS RESUMPTION OF EXECUTIONS
Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe said he is in favor of resuming executions after more than a decade in response to rising murder rates.
- JULY 17, 2017ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
ZIMBABWE: DOUBLE KILLER SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING
Robert Chiguma of Hwedza, who killed two people after being confronted over the theft of a kitchen cabinet, has been sentenced to death.
- JANUARY 1, 2017ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
After independence from Britain in 1980, there were nine offences which warranted
After independence from Britain in 1980, there were nine offences which warranted
NOVEMBER 3, 2016ZimbabweDEATH PENALTYZIMBABWE: 10 DEATH ROW INMATES FREED
Zimbabwe last week pardoned 10 inmates who were on the death row after they requested for Presidential clemency while the remaining 80 will also survive the gallows if Government resolves to completely abolish capital punishment for all crimes, Vice Presi
- NOVEMBER 2, 2016ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
under the Universal Periodic Review of the UN Human Rights Council, the Government of Zimbabwe rejected the recommendations to consider ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and to take me
under the Universal Periodic Review of the UN Human Rights Council, the Government of Zimbabwe rejected the recommendations to consider ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and to take me
- OCTOBER 10, 2016ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
ZIMBABWE: ABOLITION OF DEATH PENALTY - MPS SAY THEIR HANDS TIED
Legislators said their hands are tied over abolition of death penalty in Zimbabwe, saying scrapping the
- JULY 1, 2016ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act of 2004 was amended through the General Laws
the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act of 2004 was amended through the General Laws
- FEBRUARY 23, 2016ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
ZIMBABWE: GOVT TO ELIMINATE DEATH PENALTY - MNANGAGWA
Zimbabwe is making significant strides towards the elimination of the death penalty from its statutes as
- FEBRUARY 3, 2016ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
a 39-year-old man, Samson Mutero, was sentenced to death by the High Court after being convicted of
a 39-year-old man, Samson Mutero, was sentenced to death by the High Court after being convicted of
JANUARY 19, 2016ZimbabweDEATH PENALTYZIMBABWE: SCRAP DEATH PENALTY, CHIEFS URGE GOVT
Traditional leaders urged Government to do away with the death penalty. The chiefs said capital punishment
JANUARY 10, 2016ZimbabweDEATH PENALTYZIMBABWE: 15 DEATH ROW INMATES HIRE BITI'S FOR CONSTITUTIONAL COURT FIGHT
Opposition politician and Harare lawyer Tendai Biti has been hired by 15 death row prison inmates to
- JANUARY 1, 2016ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
After independence from Britain in 1980, there were nine offences which warranted
After independence from Britain in 1980, there were nine offences which warranted
JULY 15, 2015ZimbabweDEATH PENALTYZIMBABWE: LAST WOMAN ON DEATH ROW 'SAVED'
Zimbabwe no longer has female prisoners on death row in compliance with the new constitution.
JUNE 21, 2015ZimbabweDEATH PENALTYZIMBABWE: MAN WHO RIPPED 83 YR OLD' STOMACH AND ROBBED SENTENCED TO DEATH
In Zimbabwe, a High Court judge has sent a man to the gallows for ripping open an 83
MARCH 13, 2015ZimbabweDEATH PENALTYZIMBABWE: MINISTER EMMERSON MNANGAGWA, 'REMOVE DEATH PENALTY TOTALLY'
Zimbabwe’s acting President and Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, reiterated he wanted the death penalty “totally” abolished by the Constitution.
- JANUARY 1, 2015ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
After independence from Britain in 1980, there were nine offences which warranted
After independence from Britain in 1980, there were nine offences which warranted
NOVEMBER 14, 2014ItalyDEATH PENALTYZIMBABWE: RADICAL PARTY DELEGATION MEETS MINISTER OF JUSTICE ON THE VOTE FOR THE UN MORATORIUM
The second day of the Mission of Hands Off Cain and the Nonviolent Radical Party, Transnational and Transparty in Zimbabwe started with a meeting with the Hon. Emmerson Mnangagwa Minister of Justice and his staff to discuss the death penalty at the natio
NOVEMBER 13, 2014ItalyDEATH PENALTYZIMBABWE: HANDS OFF CAIN MEETS THE VICE-MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO URGE A VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE UN RESOLUTION ON THE MORATORIUM
The delegation of the Hands Off Cain and the Nonviolent Radical Party, Transnational and Transparty, composed of Sergio D’Elia, Marco Perduca and Marco Maria Freddi, accompanied by H.E. Enrico De Agostini Ambassador of Italy and Ms. Paula Vazquez, of the
OCTOBER 21, 2014ZimbabweDEATH PENALTYZIMBABWE: HIGH COURT RULES OUT CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
The High Court cannot impose the death penalty on murderers in Zimbabwe until the legislature enacts a law
- OCTOBER 10, 2014ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe would not see an official execution under his watch.
Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe would not see an official execution under his watch.
- AUGUST 22, 2014ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
ZIMBABWE: MINISTER OF JUSTICE SAYS WON’T SIGN DEATH WARRANTS
the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Emmerson Mnangagwa, said the 97 inmates, including a woman, on Zimbabwe’s death row owe their continued survival to him because he is against the death penalty.
- JULY 8, 2014ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
ZIMBABWE: NKOMO FARM MURDERER SENTENCED TO DEATH
A High Court judge described as cold, calculated and callous, the senseless killing of two workers at the
- MAY 8, 2014ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
ZIMBABWE: SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCES AGAINST 10
The Supreme Court upheld death sentences against 10 people accused of committing gruesome and callous