adminhas been misconstrued as unavailability of hangmen.
Contrary to a report by the Senate last week that execution was not being effected due to unavailability of hangmen, Acting Secretary for Justice and Legal Affairs Mr Maxwell Ranga yesterday said there was no hangman’s vacancy.
He said since last year, Cabinet had not acted on the papers sent to it.
“The issue is not about a hangman. Cabinet is holding on to the papers we sent in respect of the execution of the 55 murderers. There is a thinking that the new constitution might abolish the death penalty and I think that can be the reason why they have decided to defer execution. We have since sent the papers to Cabinet as required by law after the High Court and the Supreme Court had recommended for capital punishment.
“We cannot proceed to execute without the approval of Cabinet,” said Mr Ranga. Mr Ranga said the reports on the hangman’s vacancy were false because Zimbabwe had a part-time hangman who was ready for duty whenever the paperwork was in order. “We are not looking for any hangman. We have not advertised for the job. Above all, the post is part-time and we have one hangman who is always ready to do the job upon request. “Although he cannot be disclosed, he is paid on every execution and he is actually permanently employed elsewhere. He cannot be permanent with us because people are not executed daily,” he said.
Mr Ranga said the convicts could end up being spared the hangman’s noose because the new constitution might abolish capital punishment. If the new constitution does not abolish capital punishment, the convicts might still escape it by way of commuting of their death sentences to life imprisonment.
“I do not see how these people on death row are being prejudiced. Are they crying for the their immediate death? After all the lengthy stay in prison can be an advantage to them, as they will be given an opportunity to make submissions when the decision is finally made.
“If they are lucky, the new Constitution may abolish capital punishment or their sentences may be converted to life in jail considering the delay,” said Mr Ranga. Mr Ranga, who is the human resources director in the ministry, said he was shocked to receive applications from people who were vying for the non-existent hangman’s post. “I was shocked to receive applications by several nationals who wanted to be employed as hangmen. Some applications were frightening as others plainly admitted they were killers. “Some indicated they were good at killing and that they should be considered for the post, which we had not advertised,” said Mr Ranga.
The Herald was inundated with phone calls and SMS messages of people seeking more information on how to apply for the job. The matter arose during a Senate session on July 13 when the Senators were debating a motion on the first report of the Thematic Committee on Human Rights on the State of the prisons in Zimbabwe.
The Senators attributed the delay to the unavailability of a hangman.
Online Reporter
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