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Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
VICTORIA Falls residents are divided over whether the country should retain or abolish the death penalty on murder convicts.
Speaking during a consultation meeting held by the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs in conjunction with Centre for Applied Research in Victoria Falls yesterday, a cross-section of residents invoked the Bible and Ubuntu which they said should guide humanity.
A random check on the contributions however, showed that a majority of people want the death penalty retained although no one has been executed in Zimbabwe for close to two decades.
They said murder cases were on the rise in the country because of leniency in the justice system and executing those convicted of murder would deter would-be killers.
Participants said women, youths below the age of 21 and the elderly should not be exempt from death sentence as some, especially youths, commit crimes knowing they are protected by the law while some elderly kill for rituals.
They also said murder convicts should not benefit from amnesty and those accused of the crime should not be given bail.
Residents said abolishing the death penalty would result in anarchy.
“I think a person who intentionally kills should be killed too. If we have such a law this will instil fear on criminals. I also feel that it is not right to exempt those aged below 21 because when they kill they will be in their right senses.
“Anyone who murders a person should be killed regardless of age or gender,” said Miss Hailley Mudimba.
Another resident said minors are the majority of perpetrators of crime and should also be punished.
“I support the idea of death sentence regardless of age. If you go out at night you find that minors are the ones that frequent bars and abuse drugs and from there they commit crimes, including murder,” he said.
Some residents said since killing is ungodly, murderers should be left to die natural deaths in secluded places.
They said Zimbabwe is a peaceful country because it has the death sentence hence the need to retain it.
“If we abolish the death penalty we will all be killed by criminals. We should remove those that kill even if they are women,” said another participant.
Reverend Travina Chichoni said Government should retain the death penalty to maintain peace.
She said there is a need to amend the law that exempts youth and women from being sentenced to death.
“My opinion is that we continue with what is in the Constitution which is the death penalty and amend the law that exempts youths under 21 years of age and women. We have to maintain the death penalty for the purpose of peace and closure for families that would have lost their loved ones,” said Rev Chichoni.
She said cases of murder should be dealt with as a matter of urgency as they are sensitive.
Mr Trymore Ndolo said those convicted of murder and sentenced to death should be executed at the shortest time possible.
“This will be deterrent to would-be murderers. Those aged 18 and above are adults and should be treated as such when they commit murder,” he said.
Mr Phathugwalo Masuku from the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace said the sanctity of life should be respected even on murderers and as such people should be taken through rehabilitation process.
Mrs Annet Sithole concurred that life in jail was a better punishment that execution.
Residents concurred that releasing a killer affects families of deceased.
Ministry of Justice director for Law Development Commission Mrs Netsai Zvavasikwa said a report will be compiled and presented to principals at the end of the consultations.
“This is the 29th meeting of our public consultation on death penalty where we are getting views of people. So far views are mixed with others saying let’s retain death penalty while others are saying let’s abolish it,” she said. – @ncubeleon
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