Amnesty International: “Zambia’s Decision To Ban The Death Penalty Should Serve As An Example To Countries.”

Amnesty International has praised President Hakainde Hichilema’s move to abolish the death penalty in Zambia.

The human right organisation said that the country’s move to abolish the punishment should serve as an example to other countries who still use it.

The announcement came in a statement from the Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Tigere Chagutah, who welcomed the progressive move.

He outlined that the country was now the 25th nation in Sub-Saharan Africa to abolish the death penalty.

The regional director said, “Amnesty International welcomes the announcement by President Hichilema that the death penalty has been abolished in Zambia.”

Further, “this is a good and progressive move that shows the country’s commitment to protecting the right to life. We also commend President Hichilema for quashing the offence of criminal defamation of the president, used until recently to muzzle free speech and unjustifiably limit freedom of expression in the country.”

The announcement came after President Hichilema explained that he had assented to the law which will ban the death penalty and the offence of criminal defamation of the president.