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
- FEBRUARY 24, 2007ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
ZIMBABWE. BROTHERS SENTENCED TO HANG FOR KILLING FOUR
Two Chikombedzi brothers, Size, 24, and Boy Sithole, 22, have been sentenced to death for gunning down
- JANUARY 1, 2007ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution of Zimbabwe at Chapter 3, section 12...
The Constitution of Zimbabwe at Chapter 3, section 12...
- MAY 30, 2006ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
ZIMBABWE. MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR FARMER MURDER
Munetsi Kadzinga, 31, convicted of murdering farmer Charles Anderson in 2002, was sentenced to death by the Zimbabwe High Court.
- JANUARY 1, 2006ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution of Zimbabwe at Chapter 3, section 12...
The Constitution of Zimbabwe at Chapter 3, section 12...
- AUGUST 2, 2005ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
ZIMBABWE. GOVT WITHDRAWS TREASON CHARGES AGAINST OPPOSITION LEADER
Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai was cleared of treason charges carrying a possible death sentence, which he described as a desperate ploy by the government to sideline its bitterest critic.
- APRIL 20, 2005ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
Zimbabwe voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
Zimbabwe voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
- JANUARY 1, 2005ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution of Zimbabwe at Chapter 3, section 12, dealing with the protection of right
The Constitution of Zimbabwe at Chapter 3, section 12, dealing with the protection of right
- OCTOBER 15, 2004ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
Zimbabwe's High Court acquitted the opposition leader...
Zimbabwe's High Court acquitted the opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai on charges of plotting to assassinate President Robert Mugabe, saying the state had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt
- SEPTEMBER 7, 2004ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
Michael Swango,43, pleaded guilty to three murders...
Michael Swango,43, pleaded guilty to three murders in New York state
- AUGUST 29, 2004ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
The alleged plotters of a coup in Equatorial Guinea...
The alleged plotters of a coup in Equatorial Guinea are "blood-thirsty pirates" who deserve the firing squad, the country's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema said in an interview
- JULY 8, 2004ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
The following are extracts from an editorial entitled...
The following are extracts from an editorial entitled "Why Death Penalty Should Be Abolished?" by John Dzvinamurungu, vice-chairman of Amnesty International Zimbabwe
- JUNE 9, 2004ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
A South African court rejected a bid by the families...
A South African court rejected a bid by the families of 70 suspected mercenaries held in Zimbabwe to force President Thabo Mbeki's government to bring the men back to South Africa
- MAY 27, 2004ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
The South African government told the Pretoria High...
The South African government told the Pretoria High Court that it would not seek to extradite 70 suspected mercenaries arrested in Zimbabwe on charges of plotting a coup in Equatorial Guinea
- MAY 26, 2004ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
Lawyers for the South African government said the state...
Lawyers for the South African government said the state could not intervene to save 70 alleged coup-plotters detained in Zimbabwe from extradition to Equatorial Guinea where they would face the death penalty
- MAY 25, 2004ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
South Africa is obliged to protect 70 suspected mercenaries...
South Africa is obliged to protect 70 suspected mercenaries held in Zimbabwe over a coup plot in Equatorial Guinea, lawyers argued, saying Harare would hand the men over to Pretoria if requested to do so
- MAY 11, 2004ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
Philemon Muchapararwa was sentenced to death by the...
Philemon Muchapararwa was sentenced to death by the High Court in Zimbabwe after being found guilty of shooting two police officers at a roadblock
- MAY 4, 2004ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
Fearing possible death penalty they could face after...
Fearing possible death penalty they could face after being extradited to Equatorial Guinea, 70 accused mercenaries held in Zimbabwe Tuesday appealed to South Africa through their lawyers to intervene to block their extradition
- APRIL 29, 2004ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
Zimbabwe agreed to hand over to Equatorial Guinea 70...
Zimbabwe agreed to hand over to Equatorial Guinea 70 men accused of plotting a coup against President Teodoro Obiang Nguema
- APRIL 21, 2004ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
Zimbabwe voted against the resolution on the death...
Zimbabwe voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 60th UN Commission on Human Rights
- APRIL 11, 2004ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution of Zimbabwe at Chapter 3, section 12, dealing with the protection of right
The Constitution of Zimbabwe at Chapter 3, section 12, dealing with the protection of right
- MARCH 10, 2004ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
Zimbabwe said 64 suspected mercenaries aboard a plane...
Zimbabwe said 64 suspected mercenaries aboard a plane seized in Harare could be executed for what it claimed was a western plot to overthrow the government of Equatorial Guinea
- FEBRUARY 26, 2004ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
The year-long treason trial of Zimbabwe opposition...
The year-long treason trial of Zimbabwe opposition chief Morgan Tsvangirai for allegedly plotting to kill President Robert Mugabe and stage a military coup ended, but judgment was not expected for several months
- FEBRUARY 24, 2004ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
The year-long treason trial of Zimbabwean opposition...
The year-long treason trial of Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai began winding up with the state prosecutor declaring him guilty of plotting to assassinate President Robert Mugabe - a crime that carries the death penalty
- FEBRUARY 16, 2004ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
Britain told Zimbabwe it had promise not to execute...
Britain told Zimbabwe it had promise not to execute opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai if it wanted London's assistance in his treason trial
- JUNE 13, 2003ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
Zimbabwe hanged four prisoners convicted of murder,...
Zimbabwe hanged four prisoners convicted of murder, the state-controlled Herald newspaper reported
- APRIL 24, 2003ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
Zimbabwe voted against the resolution on the death...
Zimbabwe voted against the resolution on the death penalty approved by the UN Commission on Human Rights, in Geneva
- FEBRUARY 3, 2003ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
The acting chief of Indonesia's National Drugs Agency,...
The acting chief of Indonesia's National Drugs Agency, Togar Sianipar, said that 20 foreign and local drug traffickers had been sentenced to death in recent years but none has been executed
- FEBRUARY 3, 2003ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
Baton-wielding police beat back a crowd of lawmakers,...
Baton-wielding police beat back a crowd of lawmakers, diplomats and journalists trying to see the start of the treason trial of opposition leaders accused of plotting to murder President Robert Mugabe
- JANUARY 11, 2003ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
It was reported that the Supreme Court commuted to...
It was reported that the Supreme Court commuted to life imprisonment a death penalty imposed by the High Court on Robert Mugwanda
- JANUARY 1, 2003ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
After independence in 1980, there were nine offences...
After independence in 1980, there were nine offences which attracted the death penalty, but over the years they have been reduced to three