Following the sentencing to death of former Chilanga Member of Parliament Keith Mukata last week, execution of death roll convicts is back again as a hot issue publicly debated.
I remember this issue hotly debated during my participation at various levels during the 2012 constitutional consultations at district, provincial, sector group and national levels. The debate went in favour of pro-death sentence advocates. I was one of them.
The fact that the majority of participant voted in favour of death sentence was the reason this sentence was retained in the Final Draft Constitution of 2014 which was released into public domain by President Edgar Lungu, who at the time was Justice Minister.
I still very much remember issues raised by participants including: the morality of executions; whether or not executions are a deterrence; issues of retribution; issues of irrevocable mistakes in cases where an executed convict is later found innocent; issues of the cost of keeping death convicts in prison perpetually at unlimited cost to the tax payer; the issues execution of a convict versus inhuman conditions in prisons; issues of convictions due to quality of legal representation as a consequence of poverty; the need to bring closure to families of victims, etc.. Those in support of abolishing the death penalty mainly pointed to the possibility of an innocent person being executed.
Let’s face it, some crimes are so heinous and inherently wrong that they demand strict penalties – up to and including death. As a society we have the responsibility to punish those who deserve it, but only to the degree they deserve it. Our judges impose death penalty for the most heinous murders and the most brutal and conscienceless murderers because the punishment fits the crime.
Moving forward, I think those of us who intend to contest the presidential elections in 2021 should make a commitment before the elections whether or not they will sign execution orders. Speaking for myself, I will definitely sign execution orders within 30 days after the Supreme Court or Constitutional Court confirms the death penalty.
Voters must know beforehand that I will not hesitate to do so after the due court processes because only criminals convicted of the most heinous crimes are placed on death row. Voters should also know that I will do so because I feel for those left behind, the grieving families, and their loved ones, who do not deserve anything less than justice.
Further, I do not think that death penalty is inherently unfair and biased towards the poor and cannibals. Whatever the feelings are toward the death penalty, one thing most people will never know is the pain experienced when a family member or family members are brutally tortured and murdered or indeed are victims of the robbery themselves. Those who feel it know it.
Having been a victim of an armed robbery before, with a gun pointed to my head, and the robber’s finger ready to pull the trigger, I understand the pain and agony victims of armed robbery go through towards the final moments before the bang. The experience is extremely nerve-cracking for the faint-hearted.
Thank God that in my case, before the robber pulled the trigger, I garnered invincible, divine energy. I disarmed him. Instead, I pulled the trigger myself. The rest is history. Not so many experience such miraculous chances.
Lastly, unless executions resume, robbers will start insulting the judges when they pronounce such sentences. Already, one can see the cheekiness and remorselessness in death-sentence convicts because they are confident they will after-all be pardoned within months. So, what the heck!~
Peter Sinkamba
President
Green Party
4th March, 2018
True we need to know .
Sinkamba is saying Edgar Lungu should sign execution for Mutaka within 30 days.
Edgar executing Keith Mutaka, that will be something to look forward.
Yaaa what the heck..
My President Peter Sinkamba well said sir!
The only opposition leader to raise the issue of the death sentence and prison conditions in our pathetic prisons, as well as the poor justice system in our country where we see Lawyers and people in the Legal System abuse their positions time and time again.
Keep raising these issues Ba Sinkamba, we are with you!
Come 2021 vote Green, vote Peter Sinkamba a leader who cares for all Zambians.
Boss you are thinking of contesting 2021?
Mmmmmm bati chamba munakoka ni makali one!
Rest boss rest!
i think if we follow the law to the core it is very okay to kill those who kill. an eye for an eye. unless otherwise because every person is a property of the state and if anyone kills a person or is killing people they deserve to die not to be kept in prison for long. I would agree with Sinkamba though if I can have an opportunity to be President i should think about it before signing.
Good sinkamba. very good
“If” you become President and NOT “when” !
Your observations are correct. Those who kill using the sword must also be killed by the same sword.
The death penalty has its pros and cons. If you become President , sir, I urge you not to sign those death warrants in a haste. Better spend sometime understanding how pathetic our judicial system is. How judges trade cases, support their spouses who may be in the legal system. How they budget from corrupt monies and in some cases judge suspects more on how they look than the merits and facts of the case at hand. Until you sort out this a lot of otherwise innocent people will face the gallows!!! Zambia’s judicial system can be likened to Christianity Nigerian style!!!
This man must be EXECUTED, he pointed out that he grabbed a gun from a robber and opened a trigger himself so it means he killed and took law into his hands. No wonder he smokes POT cos. he is always haunted by the spirits of the alleged robber
I agree with you, people should restrain themselves. I wonder why some seem to sympathize with wrongdoers. Before you take away the life of another person think about the consequences of your actions. Some people lost their lives in Southern province just because Hichilema had lost an election for a record 5th time. Young Simuwelu lost his life when PF factions were fighting at Airport junction in Chelstone and the culprits are known but they are still walking freely. Another was killed at Mpanshya during the local govt by-election, again the murderers are known but they’re still free. If they hung several cadres then they will behave
The spate of ritual killings is a consequence of the President refusing to sign execution orders. Unfortunately, the animals committing these crimes are aware that the President won’t bother with court judgments.
Mr Peter Sikamba you will have my vote come 2021 because of your stance on the death penalty.
Well said death penalty is good for those who are terrorising innocent citizens.
Whatever the feelings are toward the death penalty, one thing most people will never know is the pain experienced when a family member or family members are brutally tortured and murdered or indeed are victims of the robbery themselves. Those who feel it know it.
You couldn’t have said it any better Peter S
If you ask me I agree with Sinkamba, I will also sign death sentences when found guilty. Murder is a heinous crime do not attempt it.
Comment: Ok pipo are supporting Death penalty and some said who kills most be killed good but let me ask this if I kill and given a death penalt and some one is given the job to do it him too has killed and has to be killed is it not so.couze God will call him a killer .
Well said Sinkamba. I agree with Syou 150%. I like your boldness on issues. You speak without fear or favour. That is leadership. The pain which is experienced by family members is too much to bear for nothing. Family members deserve closure through execution. After all, that is is the majority view of the Zambian people. Therefore, so be it!
He is the first president of a political party to come out with a position on this very important issue. Lets Hope other leaders like HH, Miyanda, Milupi, Elias Chipimo, Kambwili, and others will emulate Sinkamba and make their positions known on capital punishment and execution of murder convicts
ONLY A TONGA MUST LEAD UPND Says Sejani. Mr. Sinkamba you make sense I totally agree with you, you sound more practical and intelligent than this tribalist HH. Keep it up Mr. Sinkamba you may not take long before you become the republican president. HH A TICKING TIME BOMB TO ZAMBIA’S PEACE AND SECURITY
How can you punish a dead person?
If people have the right to decide who can life and die, this easy lets to misuse of power. I agree with above comments, that if it this penalty can be justified at all it has to be in a fair legal system where everyone has equal rights to justice. The reality in Zambia does not guarantee this.
Beside, yes murder is a horrific crime, but everything can be forgiven and everyone can change for a better. That is one of the core understandings of Christianity for me. The second chance, the forgiveness. Did Jesus’s forgiveness end somewhere?
Why do some people think they can decide what can be forgiven and what not?
People who murder need help, treatment, councelling and the society need protection until they are healt.
I wonder if killing the offender soothes the families really. I have never been through that but i dont think that kind of punishment would soothe my grief in such a situation. Moreover when someone is dead the punishment is no longer there for that person coz they wont feel anything. Real punishment is keeping them locked up for life
Get these convicts re skilled and make them work for nothing for life…..society gains something that way…….
Let us know what you will do for school leavers and university/ college graduates
How did you felt when you were shooting your very own watchman and now you complaining , an eye for an eye tooth for tooth , are a bad man you repent and ask God for the forgiveness and the late family relatives
Dreams from kanunka icamba! You and HH WILL NEVER be president in Zambia! Simple! Du…!
This is a very sensitive subject. In Africa we have RSA which does not have the death sentence. What has been achieved by this policy? Has crime declined? UK is the same but has crime declined? Several states of USA have death sentence but crime seems to be on the upswing. It’s not easy to find an answer to the question of the death penalty.