Why are some African countries holding on to capital punishment?
Human rights groups welcomed President Hichilema's decision to get rid of capital punishment. This week he commuted the death sentences of 390 inmates to life imprisonment
In May 2022, Zambian president Hakainde Hichilema submitted a bill to end capital punishment to parliament. Seven months later, he signed legislation that officially abolished the death penalty. On Wednesday he went even further, announcing that 390 inmates who were awaiting execution, would now serve life sentences.
Zambia follow in the footsteps of Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic, Chad and Sierra Leone, who took the decision in the last two years to abolish the death penalty.
But many other African nations including Botswana, Egypt, South Sudan and Somalia have chosen to keep it. Africa Daily's Mpho Lakaje has been looking at why some nations prefer to keep capital punishment.
Presenter: @mpholakaje
Guests: @kennedygondwe, @lindakasonde and Sidney Pilane
Podcast
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