By A Correspondent

Following the legislative repeal of the death penalty, the Zimbabwean government has initiated the resentencing process for inmates previously on death row. Permanent Secretary for Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Mrs. Vimbai Nyemba, revealed that stakeholders, including the Law Society, Commissioner General of Prisons and Correctional Service, and the Prosecutor General, will convene before the end of January to facilitate a smooth transition ¹.

The resentencing process involves several key steps:

• Retrial: Inmates previously sentenced to death will appear before the High Court for retrial.
• Legal Representation: Accused persons will be represented by a legal representative of their choice or one provided by the State.
• Sentence Determination: The High Court judge will determine the new sentence, which may include life imprisonment.

More than 40 inmates are affected, with the longest-serving prisoner having spent 22 years on death row at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison. Zimbabwe’s decision to repeal the death penalty follows a regional trend, with the country becoming the 30th in Africa to abolish capital punishment ².