President Edgar Lungu has commuted more death penalties to life imprisonment than any other serving Zambian President.
Justice Minister Given Lubinda said this decision not to sign death penalties has earned Zambia’s reputation internationally as an abolitionist country with regards to implementing the death penalty.
Mr. Lubinda was speaking in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia yesterday when he transited to Rome to attend a conference on the 10th Anniversary of the campaign against the death penalty by an organisation called St. Egidio.
He said Zambia had gone further to vote in the affirmative at the United Nations –UN- on maintenance of a moratorium of the death penalty.
Mr. Lubinda said President Lungu made the bold decision in 2016 to allow the Embassy of the Republic of the Republic of Zambia in New York to start voting in the affirmative after having abstained from voting on the moratorium for years.
He said despite the death Penalty still being upheld in the constitution, no President has signed the death penalty since 1998.
Mr.Lubinda clarified that unlike other laws that can easily be amended; the death penalty was part of the bill of rights that could only be amended through a referendum.
And the Minister said Zambia has adequate laws to guarantee the safety of investors in the country.
He said it was unfortunate that some Zambians where taking the law in their own hands by attacking foreigners who had come in the country to invest.
Mr. Lubinda said the recent xenophobic attacks on the Chinese where unfortunate and urged Zambia to use better channels in channelling their grievances. .
The Minister further said Zambia should resist the temptation of being used in what he termed an economic conflict against the Chinese.
He said it was unfortunate that some political leaders including parliamentarians where inciting Zambians to rise against government’s decision to engage the Chinese in some developmental projects.
The Minister was received at Bole International Airport by Ministry of Justice Permanent Secretary, Andrew Nkunika and Zambia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Ms. Susan Sikaneta.
Friends with criminals.
Let’s roll! It is certainly UNELECTABLE and clueless!
HH the criminal of privatisation?
Thats not a statistic to be proud of
thanks
BB2014,2016
Abantu balelila insala and they don’t care about criminal release from prison
This claim by Lubinda should be investigated. When did Back Edgar pardon anyone, since Kanene?
Hon Lubinda let’s be frank and honest here since Chiluba there hasn’t been an execution at Mukubeko. By commuting more death sentences to life imprisonment it only means that the courts are receiving more murder/ manslaughter/aggravated robbery cases and are passing out the maximum penalty to those found guilty. So you need to ask why are we having more of such cases, are the ones who commit these offences repeat offenders that just came out of prison? I’m sure you will find that they are so ask why and how did your correctional service fail to rehabilitate these repeat offenders? What was their original offence, was it a minor misdemeanour? Once again I’m sure it was, so meaning your magistrates are sending people who commit simple offences to the cells to become hard core criminals…
Ctn… so meaning your magistrates are sending people who commit simple offences to the cells to become hard core criminals. Solution to this is to reduce custodial sentences in favour of community service for minor crimes, that is of you are genuine and really want to see a change in our repressive so called Justice System. May heaven help us for making a mess out of everything, many draconian Laws the colonialists removed in their own country many years ago but here in Zambia we cling onto them, so does that mean the colonialists knew what was best for us dull Africans? If they did then why did we fight for Independence?
BOOSTING LIFE IMPRISONMENT OF CRIMINALS, WHILE DENNING INNOCENT TAX PAYERS FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND ASSEMBLY. IT SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT HOW DECEITFUL YOU ARE.
Are there really xenophobia attacks in Zambia? The minister of information is just confirming that to the international community. Awe mwandi bwafya. This is no damage control but rather worsening the situation.
It is evidently clear that this man is in a wrong Ministry, or rather he is oblivious to the happenings in the Judiciary. There are more pressing issues in the Judiciary right now that he needs to address. The Judiciary needs a complete Reformation. He is spending valuable time talking about nonsensicals that should be addressed by Directors in his Ministry. I wonder if he displayed his Certificate in Agriculture in his office.
From the Dept of HATRIBES H-ORGANISATION, Mapatizya Formula.
An MP being questioned for questioning
Police in Luanshya have summoned National Democratic Congress (NDC) leader Chishimba Kambwili for interviews on Thursday.
Kambwili has been summoned to appear at Luanshya Central Police at 10:00 hours.
It is unclear what the summon is about but Kambwili has been linked with the recent protest of AVIC international workers over conditions of service,
The Roan Member of Parliament recently dared Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo to arrest him.
He is one of them thats why…it does not take a mathematician to work that!!
We all know the chap is a convicted debarred lawyer who stole from a widow,he is one of them that’s why, why even be proud of such a horrendous statistic
Even in travelling abroad…
So in other words Edgar Lungu has been soft on crime ,right ?
Kill ,hung and do electrocution on these hard core criminals death sentence is what they deserve.
HANEGATIVES! He has been soft on the motorcade illiterate crime. He may not be that lucky next time. Tell him not to push his luck HAGAIN.
SO?
Thats what a President does, hence taxpayers & NOT P.F pay his salary.
Bu fontini ma bootlicker P.F Cadre Ministers, KAYA??
You want Edgar to sign so that Hon. Mukata is eletrocuted?
Did he kill or sacrifice?
Give us statistics on job creation, GDP , exports not keeping criminals longer….is that the best pf can come up with ??
A person who kills should also be killed. Doesn’t the Bible say “those who live by the sword will die by the sword?”. Life imprisonment is as good as a death sentence. And in this country it means at one time or the other that criminal will be released
Account for population of prisoners on death row then and now, matter of fact calculate as percentages.
“…And the Minister said Zambia has adequate laws to guarantee the safety of investors in the country…”
ABSOLUTE RUBBISH !!!
Ba Lubinda, you have become bigger liar than your humble Endemically Corrupt Leader.
Lubinda, there is a reason why courts impose death sentences as per law. Why should the President who does not have facts of the case commute the death sentence imposed by the courts to life imprisonment. This is surely a lacuna. Don’t be proud that the President has turned death sentences into life, nothing to be proud of here
Man of God who fear to kill , leave them and God will judge them.
To all Zambian men and women let’s have peace and love so that our children they can grow in peace and love.