Stakeholders want Bill to abolish death penalty

Religious and traditional leaders as well as human rights advocates want parliamentarians to discuss a Bill that abolishes the death penalty to preserve the sanctity of life.

Their arguments, in separate interviews yesterday, were premised on the basis that discussing the bill would be a step in the right direction.

The abolition of the death penalty has been a long-standing issue that successive governments since 1994 have failed to resolve.

There were 26 convicts on death row before President Lazarus Chakwera icommuted their sentences to life imprisonment in December 2022.

Currently, in Africa, 26 countries have abolished the death penalty, 14 still implement it and 16 others partially abolished it with exceptional circumstances.

Episcopal Conference of Malawi president  Archbishop George Desmond Tambala said the Catholic Church has always advocated for abolishment of the death penalty.

He said: “In some cases, the executed person has later on proved that he or she was innocent of the crimes against him or her. In such cases, with the innocent person already killed through the death penalty, it is impossible to restore his or her justice.”

Blantyre Synod of the CCAP general secretary the Reverend Anderson Juma said in a telephone interview that legislators need to repeal the law while his Livingstonia Synod counterpart the Reverend William Tembo said the church as an institution believes in forgiveness and love regardless of the sin committed.

But Paramount Chief Kawinga said there was need for legislators to ensure the death penalty is abolished.

On his part, Centre for Human Rights Education Advice and Assistance (Chreaa) executive director Victor Mhango said abolishing the death penalty is a step towards a more humane and just society.