Human Rights Lawyer oppose calls to abolish death sentence

Moono Mapani

A Lusaka based Human Rights Lawyer says there is no need for some stakeholders to start championing for the removal of the death sentence in the republican constitution.

Moono Mapani says this provision of the law is there for purposes of promoting order in the country and that removing it would result in increased cases of murder in the country.

He says Zambian Presidents from the time of late former president Levy Mwanawasa to the current President Edgar Lungu have all been reluctant to sign the death warrants.

Mr Moono says the death sentence should remain as a deterrent measure to would be offenders of treason, murder and aggravated robbery.

He explains that the right to life is enshrined in the international convention on civil and political rights and therefore abolishing the death sentence would result in the abrogation of these rights.

Mr. Mapani tells QTV News that those championing for the abolishment of the death sentence should know that the provision is there for the sole purpose of protecting other people’s lives.