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. There were no executions in Zambia between 1987 and 1997; in fact, condemned prisoners are rarely put to death, and there are more than 200 people on death row. Some of those at Kabwe have been on death row for up to 10 years, including the only woman sentenced to death in the country. In January 1997, 8 prisoners were sent to the gallows at Mukobeko Prison. This reopened the capital punishment debate, and the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) has mounted a national campaign for the abolition of the death penalty. Zambia's treason case involving 82 suspects, including a former President, charged in connection with a coup attempt on October 28, 1997 was moved in April 1998 to the High Court. The majority of the accused are soldiers, but 4 are civilians. The civilians include former President Kenneth Kaunda and his personal security chief, Moyce Kaulung'ombe. They have been charged with misprision of treason, meaning failure to inform the authorities of the crime. Misprision carries a life sentence under Zambian law.