The Human Rights Commission has called on the new dawn government to abolish the death penalty as it violates the basic right to life.
Speaking during a consultative stakeholder meeting in Solwezi yesterday, Human Rights Commission Principle Information Officer, Simon Mulumbi described the death penalty as a degrading way of punishing people.
“Human rights commission is not saying those found guilty should go scot free but there should be given alternative punishments such as life sentences,” Mr Mulumbi said.
He questioned why the country is still holding on to the practice on paper when no President has authorized any execution for the past 24 years.
“The right to life is a prerequisite for the enjoyment of other rights therefore, stakeholders should move the government to take action against death penalty,” Mr Mulumbi said.
And Human rights commission investigations officer, Joel Mulemwa said the death penalty is not a deterrent as statistics show that there has not been an increase in the crime rate in countries where death penalty has been abolished.
Mr Mulemwa said the practice contradicts the rehabilitation aspect which government has moved to for offenders from punishment hence, the change of Zambia prisons service to Zambia correctional service.
Meanwhile different stakeholders including civil society organizations were in support of the abolishment with a minority who were against the abolishment.
The stakeholders against the abolishment said the difference is not seen because offenders are not being executed therefore, the President needs to start authorizing the executions in order for other potential offenders to avoid committing similar offenses.
I wouldn’t be surprised if upnd changed the law to effect death penalty on all those that do not support their cliquey party
Human Rights Commission and all proponents of abolition of death penalty miss a point on this topic. They gloss over the rights of the victims of pre-meditated murder. Gen 9 vs 6 “Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God He made man” Its not whether or not death penalty reduces crime rate, but complying with God’s supreme law. The prescribed remedy for murder is death penalty. The state is there to avenge for the victims as God’s appointed authority.
What about the rights of the person who was murdered?
A NATION OF THIEVES
DEATH PENALTY MUST STAY
HUMAN RIGHTS ?? PF DIDNT KNOW THE MEANING OF THE WORD
THATS WHY CRIMINALITY HAS TAKEN OVER
IT HAS TO BE ERRADICATED
If you knowingly , willingly take a life,………
You must pay the price with your own life…….
AN EYE FOR AN EYE A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH
CHAPWA
This call is not consistent with Biblical teachings. So according to this Commission murderers have a right to brutally take away other people’s lives while the victims must lose the legal chance to get their equitable justice? It’s a load of rubbish. People might begin to take the Law into their own hands just to exact a befitting punishment for such offenders. You’ll know how painful such death is when you get directly involved. Let somebody murder you son so that you feel it
Murderers and Robbers have one thing in common to steal and kill their victims without any regard to the life of their victims or the emotional stress of the families of their victims. Why should their lives be spared. The best punishment for such people is RETRIBUTION so that both the assailants and the victims including members of their family suffers the same agony/loss.