Online Reporter
Online Reporter
Zimbabwe is aligning its legislative framework with various international human rights standards as part of the Government’s broader efforts to strengthen the justice system, a Cabinet Minister has said.
Speaking at the high-level segment of the 58th session of the Human Rights Council in Switzerland on Monday, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi highlighted the country’s commitment to upholding human rights, citing the recent abolition of the death penalty as a significant step forward.
“As a nation, we recognise that the right to life constitutes the cornerstone of all human rights, as articulated in Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR),” has said.
“The abolition of the death penalty represents a historic milestone in Zimbabwe’s efforts towards consolidating a justice system founded on human dignity, equity and respect for the sanctity of human life.
“The abolition of the death penalty represents a historic milestone in Zimbabwe’s efforts to build a justice system founded on human dignity, equity and respect for the sanctity of life.”
In addition to abolishing capital punishment, Minister Ziyambi said Zimbabwe has introduced various correctional and rehabilitation programmes for inmates in line with global best practices.
“The Act amends several existing statutes, removing all references to the death penalty and replacing them with principles of rehabilitation, proportionality and justice,” he added.
“It also includes transitional provisions to ensure that individuals previously sentenced to death are resentenced in a manner that upholds fairness and human dignity.”
Zimbabwe’s ongoing legal reforms are part of broader efforts to consolidate a justice system that respects human rights and aligns with international legal frameworks, he added.
