News / National
'We have no hangman in Zimbabwe' says deputy justice minister
10 Apr 2013 at 18:30hrs | Views
Zimbabwe's deputy justice minister Obert Gutu says Zimbabwe has not appointed a hangman yet.
"To the best of my knowledge we have no hangman in Zimbabwe. As deputy minister of Justice, I can authoritatively say that there is no hangman in Zimbabwe. If there is one I would know about it," Gutu told Radio Dialogue.
There had been recent reports claiming that one had been founded. Prison Service Commissioner, Paradzai Zimondi even said so.
The new constitution removes the death penalty for women entirely and for men under the age of 18 or over 72.
If the new constitution kicks in before the new hangman is found then the two women on death row will not be executed.
In February this year Noel Kututwa the director for Amnesty International Southern Africa condemned death penalty saying it "is the ultimate denial of human rights. It is the premeditated and cold-blooded killing of a human being by the state."
"To the best of my knowledge we have no hangman in Zimbabwe. As deputy minister of Justice, I can authoritatively say that there is no hangman in Zimbabwe. If there is one I would know about it," Gutu told Radio Dialogue.
There had been recent reports claiming that one had been founded. Prison Service Commissioner, Paradzai Zimondi even said so.
The new constitution removes the death penalty for women entirely and for men under the age of 18 or over 72.
If the new constitution kicks in before the new hangman is found then the two women on death row will not be executed.
In February this year Noel Kututwa the director for Amnesty International Southern Africa condemned death penalty saying it "is the ultimate denial of human rights. It is the premeditated and cold-blooded killing of a human being by the state."
Source - www.3
